If you look past the dark-clouded headlines about the drop in SAT scores for the Class of 2011, the news has a silver lining that is encouraging but still filled with educational challenges.
On its face, the scores are disappointing. The latest national SAT reading scores are the lowest on record, and the math figures are the lowest since 1995, the College Board said last week. In Texas, the average scores also were lower in each category, and all ranked below the national average.But a more significant number -- one that contributed to the averages falling in Texas -- is the growing number of students who are taking the test, indicating a considerable increase in youngsters who are being encouraged to attend college. That figure has grown 21.6 percent overall just since 2006.Among minorities, however, the rate of growth for those taking the SAT has been phenomenal. Between the 2006-07 and 2010-11 school years, the number of Hispanic students in Texas public schools who took the SAT increased 57.7 percent, according to the Texas Education Agency.The number of African-American SAT takers in public schools rose 43.4 percent in that same period, and Asians taking the exam increased their numbers by 23.4 percent."There is clearly an increase in the college-going culture in this state," Commissioner of Education Robert Scott said. "Whether it's elementary schools decorated with college pennants, new high-tech science and technology programs or expanding dual enrollment and Advanced Placement courses, there is a synergy in Texas that is causing more students to consider going to college."And that's a good thing.Local schools, community organizations, national celebrities and even the College Board itself have emphasized the advantages of college education, and apparently more kids are listening. That means more are signing up for college entrance exams and, as the TEA points out, the larger testing pools tend to have the lower scores.While SAT scores are not a predictor of future success, performing well on the test can be an indicator of readiness to do college work. As with standardized state tests, the national college exams continue to show a gap between Anglo and minority students, although in Texas that chasm has narrowed in recent years.Those educational deficiencies have as much, or more, to do with a student's socio-economic status as with race or ethnicity.Still, local educators must find ways to continue eradicating those disparities between groups, and colleges and universities must offer quality programs to help struggling incoming students prepare to meet the rigorous requirements of higher education.There were a few other bright signs in the SAT scores regarding closing the achievement gap. The TEA said Texas minority public school students did much better than their national counterparts on the math test."Hispanic students in Texas, who represent 24 percent of all Hispanics nationally who took the SAT, increased their mean mathematics score by one point, to 467," the TEA reported. "The score for Hispanics nationally fell one point to 460."African-Americans in Texas, representing 12 percent of black students tested nationally, increased their mean math score by two points to 438, while nationally black public school students posted a substantially lower score of 425.Authorities suggest that one reason for the increase in math scores is renewed emphasis on math education in many public schools.Now we just have to do the same for reading and writing.Sometimes too much importance is placed on test scores, but often they are useful in helping determine students' educational deficiencies and, thus, aid in designing appropriate remedial action.The challenge for everyone -- parents, educators and business, government and community leaders -- as they encourage more students of all backgrounds to seek a college education is to make sure each one is prepared to do the work. Otherwise we're preparing them only for failure.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
