THERE’S A CATCH, THOUGH …
South Carolina’s scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) improved dramatically from 2015 to 2016 – although the number (and percentage) of students taking the test at government-run schools experienced a precipitous decline.
According to data published by the S.C. Department of Education (SCDE), graduating seniors at government-run schools posted a combined score of 1446 (out of 2400) on the SAT this year. That’s up an impressive 18 points from the previous year.
Meanwhile national scores dipped six points – from 1490 to 1484.
Good news? Sure … until we dig a bit deeper.
According to SCDE data, 19,327 students at government-run schools (or 41 percent of the class of 2016) took the SAT this year. Last year 22,986 students (or 50 percent of the class of 2015) took the exam.
Hmmm … seem odd? It shouldn’t. We’re dealing with a clear pattern here: When smaller percentages of students at South Carolina “public” schools take these tests – results get better. When larger percentages take the test, results get worse.
To download the 2016 data for yourself, click here.
(Banner via iStock)