Every year schools across the nation receive reports from the College Board about the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) from the senior class the previous year.
Due to focused teaching and test-taking practice, FC average higher in critical reading, math and writing than both state and national numbers. The school’s composite score ranked 53 points higher than the national average.
The senior class of 2009 had 46 test takers: 25 girls and 21 boys. All of the tests combined to calculate a mean score. The average score for senior boys was higher than that of the girls.
“It surprises me that by the end of high school males not only catch up, but surpass the girls academically in all subject areas, not just math,” academic adviser Molly Sargent said.
Despite the well-respected merit of the SAT, 2009 graduate Stephen Prince has little regard for its importance.
“I felt the SAT was long and unnecessary,” Prince said. “The test didn’t prepare me for college since most of the questions were about high school. My best section was English because I’ve been writing songs and poetry since 7th grade. My advice to anyone taking the SAT is if I could get a good grade without a lot of studying then they can pass also.”
Notwithstanding students’ disregard, they have continued to score high; averaging 1562 last year. FCHS falls between University High School, at 1805, and Bullard High School, 1481, for Fresno County. In spite of the success, Sargent says she hopes for continual progress.
“Our scores are higher than they have been in the past,” Sargent said. “But the scores can always be better.”
The average of FC’s composite score is lower than the required score for many colleges. UC Merced’s average composite score for the SAT is 1654 and UC Berkeley’s is 2035.
When a student takes the SAT, they can request colleges to receive their scores; 20 of last year’s students had their scores sent to California State University, Fresno and 12 students requested Fresno Pacific University. In the top 11 college requests, five were UC schools.
Senior Courtney Franz took the SAT her junior year and is relieved the exam is over.
“I didn’t really like the SAT because you have to study really hard and the test is four hours long,” Franz said. “I think the SAT is good for college and to improve your test taking skills because there aren’t any distractions during the test. It was a relief to be done with the test and be normal again. Next fall I plan to attend FPU. I would like to stay in a Christian environment and close to home.”
For more information, e-mail Sargent or go to the College Board.
