PROVIDENCE – Although the number of Rhode Island high schoolers taking the SAT exams rose 2 percent this year, placing Rhode Island 15th in the nation in participation rate, but public-school scores in reading, writing and math declined for a second year in a row, according to figures released today by the Princeton-based College Board.
Overall, Rhode Island students scored 496 points in critical reading (up 1 point); 498 in math (down 4 points); and 492 in writing (up 2 points), the College Board said.
But among public-school seniors in the state, the average score was 483 in critical reading (a 2-point decline from last year); 489 in mathematics (a 6-point drop); and 478 in writing (a 1-point drop).
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Nationally, among public-school students, reading dropped 2 points, math dropped 5 points and writing dropped 4 points.
Public-school students nationwide scored 498 in reading, 509 in mathematics, and 488 in writing, with a participation rate of 42 percent. Of the 27 states with participation rates above 20 percent, only Vermont had rising scores.
About 62 percent of the public-school students in Rhode Island took the SAT exam this year.
Participation in the AP (advanced placement) tests in specific subject areas among Rhode Island public-school students was up for the second year in a row, increasing by 11 percent. The students took a total of 3,474 AP tests, of which about 58 percent (2,014) were scored at 3 or better, which represents college-level mastery, according to the College Board.
“Though I am disappointed to see our SAT scores decline, we are part of a national trend in which scores have declined for two years in nearly every state,” said Peter McWalters, the state’s commissioner of elementary and secondary education. “I am pleased, however, to see that more of our seniors are taking the SAT and the AP exams, which shows that an increasing number of our students are taking the right steps toward a successful transition to college.”
In Rhode Island, gaps of about 100 points separated the scores in the urban districts from scores in the suburban districts. Students in urban districts scored 416 in reading (up 2 points); 415 in mathematics (down 3 points); and 409 in writing (down 1 point). Suburban students scored 513 in reading (down 3 points); 520 in mathematics (down 6 points); and 507 in writing (up 2 points).
The SATs, administered by the College Board, are voluntary tests that are used as a criterion for college admissions. Each is scored on a scale of 200 to 800 points.
