College Board data shows decline in participation rate for area schools
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Aug. 26, 2009 – Testing data released by the College
Board Aug. 25 showed that average SAT scores in Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Schools rose slightly in 2009 while national and state scores
declined. The district's top performers continued to outscore their
state and national peers, scoring 30 points above the nation's high-
fliers and 45 points higher than those in North Carolina.
The average score in CMS on the three areas tested – math, critical
reading and writing – rose three points to 1492. The state average
score was 1486, down three points from a year ago. The national
average was 1509, compared to 1511 a year ago.
CMS students in the top-tenth percentile of test-takers scored 1782,
up from 1765 a year earlier. Nationally, the average score for the top
tenth was 1752, up from 1740 a year ago, and in North Carolina, it was
1737, up from 1722.
"Our top students continue to outpace the state and national averages
and we're very pleased by that," said Dr. Peter C. Gorman,
superintendent of CMS. "These students are competitive for any college
or university in the country."
The district's participation rate, however, declined for the second
year in a row, falling below the state participation rate for the
first time in several years. The district's rate was 60.6 percent,
down from 68.4 percent in 2008. The state participation rate stayed
the same for both years at 63 percent. The national participation
rate, which rose to 46 percent in 2009 from 45 percent a year earlier,
continues to trail both CMS and North Carolina.
"Although we're glad to see our scores rise this year, we have some
real concern about the decline in the participation rate," Gorman
said. "This test is a gateway test for college and we want to see more
of our students taking it, not fewer."
District officials said that no immediate reason was apparent for the
decline but that they would work with high school counselors to
investigate it. Students essentially self-select for the test, which
is not required to graduate but is generally required for college
admission.
The College Board also released results for Advanced Placement tests.
Advanced Placement classes are accelerated to give high school
students familiarity with the level of rigor expected in college
studies. Almost half – 49 percent – of CMS students who took an AP
exam scored in the proficient range, compared to 59 percent at the
state and national levels.
"We are pulling kids into Advanced Placement classes – we're
stretching kids academically," said Dr. Chris Cobitz, the district's
director of assessment. "That's good for our students, although it
tends to hold our average down."
The College Board provides districts with a prediction for students
judged ready to take AP courses. The students are chosen by the
College Board based on results from the PSAT, a precursor to the SAT
given in the junior year of high school. When only students considered
ready to take the AP tests are counted, the pass rate in CMS rises to
70 percent, which is the College Board prediction of pass rate.
"That is further evidence that we are stretching our kids to take more
rigorous work," Dr. Cobitz said. "By increasing access to these tests,
we are setting high expectations for our students."
