Schools

Wando Sees Improved SAT Scores

Increase at Wando as the system, state fall slightly.

While the rest of Charleston County and South Carolina, on average, saw a decrease SAT scores from 2010 to 2011, saw an increase.

Students at the Mount Pleasant high school earned tested roughly nine points higher in 2011, according to state data released this week. Critical reading and writing scores improved while math scores stayed the same year to year.

“Wando continues to be an academic leader in our state among non-magnet comprehensive high schools,” said Principal Lucy Beckham. “Five hundred and eight three Wando seniors took the SAT, representing 77 person of their senior class, and their mean composite score reflects a gain of nine points to 1,523."

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School Mean Composite Scores 2010 2011 Difference ACADEMIC MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL 1877 1880 3 BAPTIST HILL HIGH SCHOOL 1110 1123 13 BURKE HIGH SCHOOL 1103 1139 36 CHARLESTON COUNTY SCH OF ARTS 1588 1583 -4 GARRETT ACADEMY OF TECHNOLOGY 1218 1177 -42 GREG MATHIS CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL n/a n/a n/a JAMES ISLAND CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL 1464 1461 -3 LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL 1134 1061 -73 MILITARY MAGNET ACADEMY 1132 1179 47 NORTH CHARLESTON HIGH SCHOOL 1195 1129 -66 R B STALL HIGH SCHOOL 1155 1165 10 SAINT JOHNS HIGH SCHOOL 1191 1124 -67 WANDO HIGH SCHOOL 1514 1523 9 WEST ASHLEY HIGH SCHOOL 1319 1293 -27

While South Carolina students improved their performance on college-level Advanced Placement course exams, the state’s SAT scores declined according to statistics released by the College Board.

“While scores dipped across the state, we want to be moving in the opposite direction, and are working with our high schools to address several growth and priority areas—ensuring access to rigorous course work, setting the highest of expectations for every student, and improving SAT scores and participation rates this school year,” said school system spokesman Jason Sakran in an email.

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Though the system saw a decline overall, there were bright spots in addition to Wando’s improvement, he noted. More students took the SAT this year across the district compared to 2010.

“It is equally important to mention that Military Magnet raised their composite score by 47 points, Stall by 10 points, Burke by 36 points, and Baptist Hill by 13 points,” Sakran wrote.

The average composite score of all South Carolina graduating seniors taking the SAT was 1,436, down seven points.

The national average dropped six points to an average score of 1,500. If computed using the method in place prior to 2005, South Carolina’s composite score would be 972 while the national score would be 1011.


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