The national average for high school juniors taking the SAT exam is approximately 42%. Our State’s average is 40.4%. Santa Clara County fares slightly above the national average at 50.5%; SJUSD has reflected the state at about 40%. [citation] There are myriad reasons to explain why high school students do not take the SAT exam: they don’t view themselves as college bound, they don’t get organized to sign up, they believe the cost to be prohibitive, or they simply aren’t encouraged to do so.
SJUSD is looking to significantly raise the number of students taking the SAT exam and, by extension, the number of students who are eligible for four year colleges. Offering the exam particularly in early March of the junior year presents a number of other opportunities, as well:
Counselors will have time to meet with students before the end of the school year to discuss their scores and encourage them to think more seriously about college or to to study and retake the test in the Fall to earn an even higher score.
Students who may not have otherwise taken the test now may view themselves as college eligible and redouble efforts to graduate on time and with all A-G courses completed.
The March SAT will not conflict with the crazy rush of standardized testing that juniors face each spring: SBAC (common core), IB (international baccalaureate), AP (advanced placement) and SAT 2 (subject specific) tests consume a significant amount of time between April and early June.
Students who are already on a college track may take advantage of this opportunity as well, though they may choose earlier or later dates to coincide with their personal plans. For example, some may choose to take the test this January (2016) to take advantage of the soon to be “old” format (the test is being significantly modified beginning in March 2016) or they may choose to wait until the end of junior year when they have amassed a few more months of academic content and intellectual maturity. The primary purpose of offering the free SAT is to encourage those students who may otherwise not have taken the exam at all to do so . . .at least once.
It is for the same reason that SJUSD offers free PSAT (practice SAT) exams to all sophomores. By administering the test in the sophomore year, counselors can use the data to guide students in choosing classes for the all important junior year and encourage them to aim high with AP or honors courses. Sophomores who score exceptionally well on the sophomore year PSAT are encouraged directly by the College Board to retake that exam in the Fall of their junior years to try to qualify for National Merit scholarships. Nationwide, .03% of juniors who take the PSAT actually qualify for National Merit so, while that is a lofty goal for those within shouting range of the top scores, it is eminently more practical to have students take the exam during 10th grade when the data can be used to inform their junior and year class selections.
These efforts mark a few of the ways in which SJUSD is continuously working to decrease the gap . . . be it achievement, opportunity or outcome!
