Only eight of 37 school districts in Northeast Pennsylvania met or surpassed the state average on the 2012 SAT. Only three of those districts surpassed the national average on the test.
The data released by the state Department of Education show the districts in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties continue to lag behind scores across the country - and the state.
Abington Heights, Elk Lake and Wallenpaupack Area surpassed both the state average of 992 and national average of 1,010. Crestwood, Dallas, Delaware Valley, Wayne Highlands and Lackawanna Trail surpassed the state average. Scores are for students who graduated high school in 2012.
The SAT math and verbal 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, which was added seven years ago. The SAT is voluntary and is generally taken by college-bound students.
At Abington Heights, where students scored an average of 1,055 on the test, there is no specific SAT-prep course. Instead, the district relies on its regular course curriculum, Superintendent Michael Mahon, Ph.D., said.
"We're very pleased to hear our scores are up," Dr. Mahon said.
Christian DiGregorio, director of admissions at Marywood University, said SAT scores are just one factor in the admissions process. The scores may be more of a factor in acceptance to majors in which a standardized test is needed for licensing or certification, such as teaching or nursing, he said.
But "it's not the end all and be all," he said.
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