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Hernando Today

Hernando's SAT Scores Dip Slightly

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By LINNEA BROWN

Published: August 31, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Hernando County students who took the SAT college entrance exam had lower scores than last year's test-takers in all three areas of the test, according to figures released Tuesday.
The SAT measures critical reading, mathematical and writing abilities important for success in college. Many universities require a score from either the SAT or ACT.
Over the past five years, the county's scores sank 11 mean score points in critical reading and 10 points in mathematics, compared to a statewide drop of three points in reading and two points in math. The highest possible score in each area is 800 points.
In writing, the newest portion of the test, the district scored an average of 473 points, compared with a statewide average of 481 points and national average of 494.
In reading, the district scored an average of 495 points — compared with 496 statewide and 502 nationally — and in math, the district scored an average of 479 points, compared with 497 statewide and 515 nationally.
When compared with last year's scores, the differences were even greater between schools. At Hernando High School in Brooksville, scores sank 19 points in reading/verbal, 22 points in writing and 34 points in math. Central High School in Spring Hill was the only school where scores rose slightly – up seven points in math and four in writing, though scores sank four points in reading/verbal.
However, not all students take the SAT, causing test scores to vary from year to year and making comparisons difficult, testing specialist Linda Pierce said.
"It's really more of an individual test," she said. "We have such small numbers of students taking it at each school, meaning we have a greater chance of having varying results."
In Hernando County, most students take the ACT college entrance exam. Last year, 740 students took the ACT, compared with 438 that took the SAT.
Also, because the tests are taken only by particular groups of students who volunteer to take the test, they usually do not reflect the educational attainment of all students in a particular area. Other factors related to SAT performance include academic courses in high school, family background and education of parents, Pierce said.
"There are a lot of reasons why scores change so much," she said.
The ACT scores, released last week, did not vary much from last year's scores. While the state's scores were drastically lower than the national average, Hernando's numbers were only slightly lower than the state average.
Pierce said officials are not sure why scores went down, but that district curriculum specialists in reading, math and writing will be examining data closely to see if students should be enrolled in additional or more rigorous classes.
While nearly 100,000 Florida students took the SAT this year, only districts with an adequate number of students taking sections of the test are reported as part of state statistics.
Of those, rankings are as follows: In reading, Hernando ranked 22nd of 39 districts. In math, Hernando ranked 35th of 41 districts, and in writing, Hernando ranked 24th of 38 districts.

Reporter Linnea Brown can be reached at 352-544-5289 or lbrown@hernandotoday.com.

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