Sat Scores Up In County

Average Increases By Four Points Over Previous Year

Anne Arundel County high school students increased their average SAT score for the 2008-2009 school year four points over the previous year, scored nine points higher than the national average and 21 points over the state average.

It was the 13th consecutive year that county seniors have seen their scores top national and state averages.

"These scores offer proof that our efforts to put programs in place and deliver instruction in a way that will help every student achieve his or her own potential are paying off," said Superintendent Kevin M. Maxwell. "I am particularly pleased with the performance of our African-American and Hispanic students, whose scores rose significantly this year."

The average score for African-American students rose 43 points and the average score for Hispanic students rose 25 points over the previous year. While the number of students taking the SAT fell 13 percent over the previous year to 2,515 students, a decrease attributed to a 13 percent drop in seniors, the number of African-American students taking the test rose by 4 percent and the number of Hispanic students rose by 25 percent.

County students scored highest on the math portion of the test, averaging 519 points - three points higher than last year. The average reading score was 504 points, an increase of two points from the previous year. Student scores on the writing portion of the test fell by one point from the previous year to 495.