Sep 21, 2007
Wilton students make gains in most recent round of SATs
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Wilton kicked it up a notch on the Scholastic Assessment Tests this past school year. According to results released in August, Wilton students did better than the majority of their peers in the District Reference Group.
According to results from Arlene Gottesman, assistant superintendent of schools, the average score in Wilton on the SATs was 1,799, up 18 points from the average score in 2006, where it was 1,781.
“We were over the top in SATs,” said Ms. Gottesman. “Wilton students continue to score significantly higher than their state peers.”
The DRG is a group of similar towns used by officials for reference purposes when comparing test results, student enrollment, cost per pupil and other figures. The other towns in the DRG are Darien, Region 9 (Easton and Monroe students at Joel Barlow), New Canaan, Ridgefield, Westport and Weston.
The SAT is a standardized test The College Board administers nationally. It is one of two national tests that most colleges use as one component of the admissions process. The test results are reported on a scale of 200 to 800, in reading, writing and math. Last year, the SAT incorporated a writing section, in addition to the traditional math and reading sections, bringing the highest possible score from 1,600 to 2,400.
The results in the three categories for the class of 2007 were:
• Reading: This year, students scored an average of 596, up five points from last year’s score of 591.
They scored the highest in the DRG in this subject. The range for the DRG group was 577 to 596. They were two points ahead of their Weston peers, who scored an average of 594.
• Writing: This year, students scored a 600, up 10 points from last year’s 590.
Students in Wilton scored the second highest within the DRG, coming in one point shy of Weston, whose students scored 601 on average. The DRG range of scores was 561 to 601. Wilton students were seven points higher than their third-ranking New Canaan peers, who scored 593.
• Math: This year students scored an average of 603, up one point from last year’s score of 602.
Students in Wilton scored the highest within the DRG for this subject. The range of the DRG for math was 558 to 603. The second highest results in math were students in New Canaan, who scored an average of 599 points.
The average score in Connecticut for public school students taking the SATs dropped across the board. The average math score declined by six points to 504. In reading, the average was 502, down three points from last year. Writing fell by 503, which is down one point from this past year.
In October, Wilton school administrators will present the testing report to the Board of Education, Ms. Gottesman said.
“We’re very pleased with our SAT scores,” she said.
—Additional reporting by Justin Reynolds
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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