In 2015 Sampson County Schools’ seniors achieved higher SAT scores than the previous school year, while scores in North Carolina and the nation dropped.
Sampson County Schools seniors posted an average combined score of 1360 on the SAT, according to figures released by The College Board. In 2014, the score was 1312.
Col. Tommy Macon, assistant superintendent for Academics and Student Services, said the district is proud of the results, which included an increase in all high schools.
“This is a testament to the district’s instructional focus and teacher collaboration to ensure rigor is an area of emphasis,” Macon stated about the scores. “This certainly reflects a conscientious effort on both the teacher’s instruction and the student mastery of the necessary skills to demonstrate success.”
On the SAT, seniors scored 469 on math, up from 452 in 2014; 456 on critical reading, up from 446; and 435 on writing, up from 414 the previous year.
Superintendent Dr. Eric Bracy congratulated seniors and teachers who prepared them for the SAT, which is used for college admissions.
“Graduating more students who are prepared for college and careers is a sincere commitment of the staff and community in Sampson County,” Bracy said. “Higher SAT results are one sign that students are ready for the challenges of college-level work. We encourage students, starting in elementary school, to participate in more rigorous academic classes and extracurricular activities in order to be prepared for future success.”
For North Carolina, the combined score for math, critical reading, and writing decreased by five points to 1478. According to school officials, the combined SAT score is 1490, which is down from 1497. The maximum score on the tests is 2400.
The amount of students taking the SAT in the state and in the county decreased since the ACT is a part of the state’s READY accountability model. Many students taking the ACT for college admission since the state pays for the test. The school district had a minor increase in SAT participation in 2015 with a 39.8 percent of seniors taking the test, up from 39.3 percent in 2014.
