03/29/2024

SAT scores: California lags nation

California’s Class of 2016 scored lower than the national average on SAT reading and math tests, although state students outperformed their national peers in writing, just-released scores show.

But the scores released late Monday may represent more than the state’s periodic fluctuation in national comparisons of reading and math. California’s sinking scores may reflect the SAT’s increasing democratization, with more students at differing levels of preparation taking the exam.

California saw a 1.6 percent increase in the number of seniors taking the test to nearly 241,600 students. According to the College Board, the private group that runs the test, the increase is due to districts like West Contra Costa and San Jose Unified, which offer students the opportunity to take the test on a school day and cover the fees — about $50 per student.

One of the leading exams used for judging applicants for college and scholarships, the SAT changed its content and format last spring, so current scores are not easily comparable to previous years.

On the 200-to-800 scale, Golden State seniors scored an average of 491 on critical reading and 500 on math, 3 points and 8 points below the national average, respectively. In writing, however, California students scored an average of 485, 3 points above the national average — continuing an 11-year run of outscoring their peers nationwide.

Nationally, SAT scores in all three areas have been generally falling since 2005, after a 25-year rise.

As with California’s standardized tests, the national SAT scores revealed a wide socioeconomic achievement gap.

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