Howard County students outperformed their peers at both the state and national levels on the SAT last school year.

The College Board, which administers the SAT, released scores Aug. 26 on the college admissions test for the class of 2008.

According to the results, Howard County students improved their average scores on all three portions of the test, while the average state and national scores remained comparatively flat.

Howard County students exhibited the most improvement on the writing portion of the test, increasing their average score from 537 in 2007 to 544 in 2008. Howard County scores on the reading portion of the exam increased by three points over last year, averaging 540 in 2008, and results on the math portion of the test improved by one point, averaging 557 in 2008.

State averages on the test were 499 in reading, 502 in math and 497 in writing. The national average scores were 502 in reading, 515 in math and 494 in writing.

The College Board’s report was based on self-reported data from students, said Theresa Alban, Howard County schools’ chief operating officer. Howard County staff will sift through the data provided by the College Board to confirm that the students actually attend county schools, to eliminate duplicate records and to correct errors in demographics or school attendance, Alban said.

More complete SAT data, including school-by-school results, will be presented at the Board of Education meeting Sept. 18, Alban said.

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