SAT Scores Up at Newton North; Students Scored Better Than State, National Average

Newton North High School students' SAT scores increased in 2012, going against a national trend of lower scores on the college entrance exam.

SAT scores at Newton North High School in 2012 were higher in reading, math and writing than scores in 2011, according to results released this week.

Across town, Newton South High School's scores dipped a bit from last year. However, South's scores remain higher than those at Newton North.

Both Newton North and Newton South students scored better than students across the Commonwealth and the nation.

In 2012, 377 Newton North students took the SATs, according to results released by the College Board. Their scores were 582 in critical reading, 608 in math, and 590 in writing for a total average of 1780.

At Newton South, roughly the same number of students took the SATs in 2012, 378. Their scores were 594 in critical reading, 622 in math and 601 in writing for a total average of 1817.

In 2011, Newton North students' average scores were 574 in reading, 595 in math and 574 in writing. Newton South had average scores of 599 in reading, 630 in math and 614 in writing, according to the College Board 2011 Massachusetts SAT results.

The SAT exam is divided into three sections: reading, writing and math. The maximum score in each is 800 points.

The statewide average this year was 506 for reading, 523 for math, and 500 for writing.

Nationally, reading scores fell to their lowest level in four decades. College-bound seniors scored an average of 496 points in reading, a 34-point drop since 1972, reported the College Board, which administers the SAT test.

Nationally, the average writing scores were 488, the lowest level since 2006, and the national math score was 514.

Check out our chart below to review the Newton average SAT scores:

According to a press release released by the College Board, students need to achieve a combined score of 1550 out of a total of 2400 points to demonstrate they were well-prepared for college, indicating a 65 percent likelihood they would earn a B- average or higher during their freshman year of college.

Newton North students on average had a combined score of 1780 in 2012 and Newton South students had an average combined score of 1817.

The College Board report stated only 43 percent of 2012 high school seniors who took the test showed they were fully prepared for college.

Nationally, more than ever, the population of students taking the SAT reflects the diverse makeup of America's classrooms.

Among SAT takers in the class of 2012:

• 45 percent were minority students (up from 44 percent in the class of 2011 and 38 percent in the class of 2008) making this the most diverse class of SAT takers ever.
• 28 percent reported that English was not exclusively their first language (up from 27 percent in the class of 2011 and 24 percent in the class of 2008).
• Among public school SAT takers in the class of 2012, 25 percent reported that English was not exclusively their first language, up from 23 percent five years ago.
• 36 percent of all students reported their parents' highest level of education as a high school diploma or less.
• 62 percent of Hispanic SAT takers in the class of 2012 are first-generation college goers.