Average S.C. SAT score drops by 7 points
S.C. high school students' SAT scores dropped last year, but their performance on college-level Advanced Placement course exams improved.
That's according to new data released today by the S.C. Department of Education.
The average score of S.C. graduating seniors taking the SAT, a test that gauges college readiness, is 1,436 -- down seven points from the previous year. That compares with the national average score of 1,500 -- down six points.
Broken down by test sections, S.C. seniors scored 482 on the critical reading portion of the test, 490 in math and 464 in writing. The national average in those sections is 497 on reading, 514 on math, and 489 on writing.
State Superintendent of Education Mick Zais cited as a particular concern the state’s lagging scores in critical reading and writing.
“Like the other college admission test ACT, the SAT is not a measure of school effectiveness,” Zais said in a statement. “However, within the student population taking the SAT is another data point confirming a troubling trend: there is a wide reading gap between South Carolina and the nation.
“Addressing the reading gap in elementary school must be our top priority because reading is fundamental to everything else in a student’s education,” said Zais, a Republican elected last November. “If students cannot read, they will not succeed in school. To accomplish this goal, we must transform education from a one-size-fits-all system to one that delivers a personalized and customized education to each student.”
SAT scores for individual high schools and school districts were not made available today by the College Review Board, which oversees the SAT, the state Education Department said.
The state’s high school students fared better on Advanced Placement exams. Through AP courses, and the accompanying exams that demonstrate mastery of the course material, students earn college credit while still in high school. Since 1984, South Carolina has paid for AP instructional materials, paid students’ test fees and offered specialized training for teachers.
Every student enrolled in an AP course is required to take the exam.
The percentage of S.C. students receiving a passing score of 3, 4, or 5 on their AP exam increased by 10.3 percent and a total increase of 32.5 percent over the past five years. A 5 is the top score a student can receive.
“While AP scores are not a good indicator of school performance, the success of these individual students is a worthy accomplishment,” Zais said. “The students, their parents, and their teachers deserve all the credit for these gains.
“By taking advantage of the opportunities AP exams present, students can cut future costs associated with continuing their education,” Zais said. “These courses offer students college-level rigor without the price tag of college tuition.”
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