LINCOLNTON Average SAT scores for both Lincoln County schools and individual high schools proved to be a mixed bag Wednesday night. While more than half of the class of 2007 is taking the SATs school officials estimate around 52 percent average 2007 scores are down over last year.
LCS director of secondary education Teresa Hawley pointed out despite the deficit of 16 average points, scores have increased 25 points in math and 10 points in verbal over the last six years.
Im concerned about the scores even though the state and national averages have declined in 2007 over 2006, said Hawley. The average scores are a reflection of the seniors taking the test. Where seniors have taken the test multiple times, the most recent score was factored in to the numbers.
System wide, Lincoln County Schools are right at the state average in SAT math scores at 508; the state average is 509. Hawley said the system is also above the national average but was unable to provide that figure.
Changes in the SAT test in 2007 are one reason for the change in the averages in reading and math.
The verbal test has been renamed critical reading, said Hawley. The test is also longer than in years past because the writing test was added in 2006.
Hawley praised North Lincoln High School for being above the state and national average in the math portion of the SAT scores.
Its a testament to their excellent math department, said Hawley.
Lincolnton High School, meantime, leads Lincoln County Schools in the writing portion of the SAT, with an average of 484 in 2007, up nine points from 475.
The key to success in the SAT is preparation, which Hawley said is something school leaders should work on in helping students achieve higher scores.
We need to make sure teachers and students understand what the new SAT tests are all about, Hawley said. One was we can do that is to hold countywide preparation before the test is given.
While more students in Lincoln County Schools are taking the SAT tests, more students graduated in 2006 according to figures released to the Board of Education.
Graduation rates are up at Lincolnton; East Lincoln; and West Lincoln High Schools. North Lincoln, meantime, showed a slight decrease attributed to students either dropping out or moving out of the district.
The figures are made up of ninth graders who graduated in four years, said associate superintendent of curriculum Dr. Sherry Hoyle. For example, the North Lincoln graduating class of 2006 started with more than 230 students and graduated 200.
For 2006-07 school year, schools above the state average of 69.4 percent in students graduating were East Lincoln, North Lincoln and West Lincoln High Schools. The three schools were also above the district average of 77.1 percent. While Lincolnton High fell short of the national and state average 68.1 percent of all LHS seniors graduated in 2006 the school jumped about seven points about the graduation rates in 2005.
The largest jump between 2005 and 2006 more than 11 percentage points came from East Lincoln High School.
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