Howard County school officials, worried that the average SAT scores for black and Hispanic students fall below the standard for acceptance to many colleges, plan to bolster their test preparation efforts for those groups.

In an attempt to "level the playing field," teachers will continue recruiting black and Hispanic students for after-school SAT prep programs, said Clarissa Evans, director of the school system's high school curriculum.

Overall, 2,806 students in the class of 2008 -- or 73 percent of graduating seniors -- took the exam, which is the most common test reported for college admissions.

The participation rate in 2008 was Howard County's highest ever, officials said.

Countywide, students' scores topped state and national averages, according to data released in August by the College Board, which administers the test.

The 2,400-point test includes 800-point sections in critical reading, mathematics and writing.

County students improved their average scores on all three portions of the test this year, with a mean score of 541 in reading, 557 in math and 545 in writing, for a composite average of 1,643.

Students at Centennial High School in Ellicott City posted the best average scores in the county, followed by River Hill High School in Clarksville, and Marriotts Ridge High School in Marriottsville. Each of the top-performing schools earned a composite average above 1,700.

Source of concern

The average performance of black students on all three sections of the test and the performance of Hispanic students on the writing section are below 500, which is generally the minimum score for acceptance to many colleges, according to testing coordinator Portia White.

While the county's overall average scores improved in 2008, the average performance of black students decreased by three points in reading and nine points in math.

The county's black students posted an average reading score of 464 in 2007 and 461 in 2008, while posting an average math score of 461 in 2007 and 452 in 2008. Black students' writing scores improved by four points, from 460 in 2007 to 464 in 2008.

While Hispanic students have improved their performance on all three portions of the test, their scores still lag behind the average posted by Asian and white students.

Hispanic students posted a 19-point gain in reading, rising from an average of 484 in 2007 to 503 in 2008. They improved by nine points in math, from 501 in 2007 to 510 in 2008; and by 18 points in writing, from 481 in 2007 to 499 in 2008.

Prep courses offered

In an attempt to better prepare all students for the SAT, teachers have been infusing more SAT material into general courses like 11th grade English and algebra 2, Evans said. The goal is to familiarize students with the type and format of questions to expect on the test, including SAT vocabulary and essays.

Each high school offers an elective half-credit SAT prep course during the school day, and six schools offer an after-school SAT prep program, Evans said.

"For that after-school component, we recruit heavily within the African-American and the Hispanic communities," she said, adding that the program is similar to what some students receive from private tutors. "We're trying to level the playing field, so to speak, and provide that resource for more of our students."

The high schools that offer the after-school program are Reservoir, Wilde Lake, Oakland Mills, Hammond, Long Reach and Howard.

Ninety percent of students in the class of 2008 reported plans to continue their education in college, according to data released in July, with 64 percent attending a four-year college, 26 percent attending a two-year college and 1 percent attending a trade or technical school.

---

user comments (1)

user justthefacts says...

"While the county's overall average scores improved in 2008, the average performance of black students decreased by three points in reading and nine points in math."

that must be because of the racial biases of standardized testing, right? not habitual bad-parenting...

Posted 5:05 PM, 10.10.08

• Permalink