CBA earns SAT bragging rights

6 September 2007 — As Wayne County Public Schools announced a slight drop in averages for system-wide scores, Charles B. Aycock High School came out with several good marks.

Data compiled by the College Board on the Scholastic Aptitude Test shows that Wayne County’s schools have had a slight decline in test score averages. System-wide, the average SAT scores dropped five points from last year to a score of 1415. This drop follows state and national trends in which average scores dropped seven points.

The drop for Wayne County Schools this year seems to come in the writing portion of the test, which was added in 2002. Neither critical reading nor math averages dropped in Wayne County, but writing averages dropped five points. Nation-wide, reading scores dropped one point, math scores dropped three points, and writing scores dropped three points.

However, the highest individual score in the county came from a student at Charles B. Aycock, who scored a 2300 overall, which is 100 points shy of a perfect score. The student earned an 800, which is a perfect score, in critical reading, along with a 790 in math and a 710 in writing.

In addition, SAT math averages at Charles B. Aycock are above the state and national averages.

Wayne County schools work to prepare students for the SAT, as well as preparing them to move on to higher education. Dr. Craig McFadden, Assistant Superintendent, said that scores aren’t necessarily indicative of better high schools.

“Because not every high school student takes the SAT, scores are not reflective of the schools where test-takers attend,” he said. “It is also worth noting that, if a student took the test more than once, regardless of the score, the most recent test score is used.”

At Charles B. Aycock, students are prepared for the SAT in their regular core curriculum courses of English and various maths. Emphasis on SAT vocabulary is part of each English course.

In addition, students can opt to take an SAT Preparatory course. Though the course does not count toward the academic course of study, students can take it as an elective. The class focuses on preparing for the test, and allows students to practice on all three parts of the test.

Dr. Steven Taylor said that what says more about Wayne County School’s preparation of students is the number who move on to institutions of higher learning.

“Of the 1144 students who graduated from our seven high school last spring, 995 have moved on an institute of higher learning,” he said. “That says a lot about our students, as well as our teachers, administrators, support staff, and Board of Education members who work tirelessly to give our more than 19,000 students a high quality education.

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