Only 10 NEPA districts exceed SAT averages

BY SARAH HOFIUS HALL
Times-Shamrock Writer

Only 10 Northeast Pennsylvania school districts met or exceeded state and national averages on the SAT test, according to data released Wednesday by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Students who graduated in 2014 from the 37 school districts in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties scored an average of 976 on the math and reading portions of the SAT. The score is lower than the state average of 1,001 and national average of 1,010.

Abington Heights, Dallas, Lake-Lehman, Susquehanna Community, Crestwood, Wallenpaupack Area, Wayne Highlands, Delaware Valley, Forest City Regional and Montrose Area met or exceeded both the state and national averages.

Wilkes-Barre Area, Hazleton Area, Mid Valley, Scranton and Pocono Mountain had the lowest averages in the region.

The SAT math and reading tests are potentially worth 800 points each, for a possible total of 1,600.
Students also take an 800-point writing portion, but the scores are not factored into the totals by The Times-Tribune because some colleges continue to discount the value of the test. Starting next year, students will take a redesigned test that will have a total of 1,600 possible points, plus an optional essay.

With an average score of 1,085, Abington Heights received the highest score of any area district in at least nine years.

“We’ve been seeing some very encouraging increases in scores across the board at the high school,” Superintendent Michael Mahon, Ph.D., said. “We’re very pleased with it.”

The district does not offer SAT prep classes, and instead, relies on its curriculum to prepare students for the SAT test and beyond.

The Dunmore School District saw one of the biggest increases in scores, from a 914 in 2013 to a 966 for 2014.

“We’re very, very pleased with that,” Superintendent Richard McDonald said. “Our kids and teachers are working hard every day.”

Dunmore has one of the highest test participation rates in the area. Nearly 84 percent of Dunmore students who graduated in 2014 took the SAT test. Generally, when a high percentage of students take the test, the average is lower because not all students who take the test are college bound.

“Our student body has always been focused academically,” Mr. McDonald said.