BALTIMORE\u00a0 \u2013<\/b> The mean SAT score for graduating seniors in Maryland public schools increased by 20 points for the class of 2018, according to data released today.<\/p>\n
The composite score for graduating Maryland public school students improved to 1066 for the class of 2018, up from 1046 in 2017.\u00a0 That compares to a national public school average of 1049, up three points from 1044 in 2017.<\/p>\n
The State\u2019s improvement on the SAT came as a record number of graduating students took the exam.\u00a0 A total of 40,639 members of the class of 2018 took the SAT, compared to 36,459 in 2017.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnsuring that every young Marylander has access to a world-class education is our top priority, and our administration has made record investments in K-12 education so our students have the opportunity to achieve their dreams,\u201d said Governor Larry Hogan. \u201cI am proud to see our students thriving, and I congratulate the Class of 2018, as well as the leadership, teachers, and parents that contribute to their success, both now and in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Karen Salmon, State Superintendent of Schools, said the assessment results indicate a growing number of Maryland students are better prepared for college or the workforce as they complete high school.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese tests serve as an important yardstick for our students as they ready themselves for life after graduation,\u201d Dr. Salmon said.\u00a0 \u201cThe better prepared our graduates, the more likely they are to enter college or their first job with a clear pathway to success.\u201d<\/p>\n
The College Board today related 2018 data for the SAT, which underwent considerable changes two years ago.\u00a0 The organization dropped a required separate writing test, which it added a decade ago, and changed other facets of the test at that time.<\/p>\n
The mean score for the evidence-based reading and writing section (English language arts) for Maryland public school students in the class of 2018 students is 538, compared to 528 for the class of 2017, while the mean score for mathematics is 528 compared to 518 in the class of 2017.\u00a0 The SAT tests are scored on a 200 to 800-point scale for each section.<\/p>\n
The College Board also released data on the Advanced Placement tests for 2018. Today\u2019s release was preceded by the release last week of ACT test data.<\/p>\n
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SAT Results<\/b><\/p>\n
Maryland\u2019s SAT results improved across-the-board in 2018.\u00a0 The mean composite score for Asian students increased from 1164 to 1221; for African American students, up from 937 to 947; for Hispanic students from 1013 to 1024, and for White students from 1134 to 1142.<\/p>\n
Male students from Maryland had a mean score of 1075, while female students\u2019 mean was 1058.\u00a0 Females scored better on the evidence-based reading and writing portion (540 compared to 535), while males had a higher mean score on mathematics (540 to 519).<\/p>\n
SAT results are scheduled to be released today at www.collegeboard.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ACT Results<\/b><\/p>\n Although SAT remains the dominant exam in Maryland, a record number of graduating seniors in the State took the ACT in 2018. There were 15,100 members of the class of 2018 who took the ACT, a big increase over the 12,664 for the class of 2017.<\/p>\n The average composite score for Maryland public school students dipped for the Class of 2018, to 22.1 from 23.4 for the class of 2017.\u00a0 Maryland\u2019s scores remain above the national average, 20.8, which dipped slightly from 21.0 in 2017.<\/p>\n Maryland public school students scored above the national averages in all four ACT categories, English (21.4 to 20.2), mathematics (21.8 to 20.5), reading (22.6 to 21.3) and science (21.9 to 20.7).\u00a0 The ACT is scored on a 1-36 point scale.<\/p>\n