State education officials quickly cited mitigating factors Tuesday to explain the declining SAT scores from the Maryland high school class of 2006, reported by the College Board.
The reasons included the longer, revamped test itself, which included more algebra, more reading ? but no analogies ? and a writing portion for the first time and also an increase in the number of students taking the test in Maryland.
Overall state scores fell 8 percentage points in the critical reading portion, to a mean score of 503, and dropped 6 points in math, to a mean score of 509 out of 800.
Nationally, the mean score in critical reading fell 5 points to 503, and 2 points in math to 518 possible points.
Maryland?s participation rate among seniors was 70 percent, compared to 48 percent nationwide.
“We intend to treat these scores for the new SAT as baseline for comparing forward,” said state Superintendent of schools Nancy Grasmick.
“The new SAT is a much different assessment. Looking forward, it may better gauge student preparedness and encourage instruction at the high school level. We?ll know a lot more about the performance of Maryland students after next year?s administration,” she said.
The SAT scores dropped across much of the state. In Baltimore City, math numbers fell 21 percent and critical reading scores dropped 17 points; however, the number of students taking the exam rose 21.2 percent to a 75.6 percent participation rate among graduates.
Baltimore County scores fell, as did traditionally strong Howard County?s, where reading scores dropped 13 points and math dropped 2 points.
Scores fell across gender and ethnic lines statewide. Anne Arundel, Carroll and Harford educators were unable to say if their scores dropped.
College Board officials also said 47 percent of this year?s students took the test only once, up from 44 percent last year.
Students taking the test a second time typically gain 14 to 15 points in each section.
The SAT results contrasted to other statewide data released by the College Board, showing continued growth in the number of students taking and scoring higher on Advanced Placement exams, and an increase in number and performance on the ACT test, an SAT alternative college admissions recommendation.
The composite ACT score for Maryland students rose from 21.0 last year to 21.4 for 2006.
