VIRGINIA BEACH
Virginia's high school seniors in 2008 improved on the SAT college entrance exam in mathematics and writing. Scores were flat in reading, when compared with those in 2007.
The mean score of 511 in reading was 9 points above and the mean of 512 in math was 3 points below the national average. Virginia's mean writing score of 499 was 5 points above the national average.
On all three sections of the test, national averages were unchanged from 2007.
The national and state-level results were released Tuesday by the College Board, the makers of the SAT. It releases results for individual schools directly to school divisions, and those results were not yet available.
Virginia's public school students, if counted separately, improved their performance on the 2008 test in all three subject areas. Average scores rose 1 point on the reading and mathematics sections, to 508 and 510, respectively. They rose 2 points to 496 on the writing exam.
African American, Asian American and Hispanic public school students in Virginia did better than their peers nationwide on all three portions of the test.
"These results validate Virginia's commitment to high academic standards and indicate that Virginia students are confident in their ability to undertake college-level coursework," said Billy K. Cannaday Jr., the state's superintendent of public instruction, in a statement.
While scores rose for Virginia public school students, the number of them taking the SAT dropped by 2.3 percent in 2008. That was offset by an increase in non-public school students taking the test.
Virginia still ranks 10th in the nation for public school participation in SAT testing, according to the state Department of Education.
According to results released two weeks ago, the number of Virginia students taking the other major college entrance exam, the ACT, increased 15 percent in 2008 to about 17,000.
In North Carolina, average SAT scores improved in two subjects and held steady in the third. The 496 average reading score was a 1-point improvement over 2007. Mathematics scores improved to 511 from 509, and writing stayed at 482 points.
All three scores are at least 4 points below national averages.
Lauren Roth, (757) 222-5133, lauren.roth@pilotonline.com
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Smart students may stop giving their schools their SAT scores
At least in Va Beach, all student scores are reported on the transcript. ACT already has score choice, but not if VBCPS insists on showing all ACT scores on transcripts. AP scores aren't supposed to be used for most college admissions, yet there they are on the transcript. Starting next spring, SAT will offer score choice, but, again, not really if VBCPS plasters all scores on transcript. Smart students will not give a school code, so VBCPS won't know their SAT scores. VBCPS may lose out on getting to count some very good SAT scores this way. I wonder if they will change their practice? Maybe a story for you, Lauren!
Time to do away with the SOLs
Year after year, Virginia students continue to improve on various national tests. I can't see why all the whiners want to end the SOLs and No Child Left Behind achievements of recent years.