High schools top national, statewide SAT averages

Angelique Flores

Area high schools have again topped the nationwide and statewide SAT

average scores.

In results released Tuesday, the average score for the Huntington

Beach Union High School District was 1076, surpassing the nationwide

average of 1019 and the statewide average of 1015.

“We have very well-prepared students, and it is reflected with the

scores,” said Dorothy Crutcher, the district’s director of pupil

personnel services.

SAT tests assess math and verbal skills. Each section is scored on a

scale of 200 to 800, with a total possible score of 1600.

This was the fourth consecutive year the district’s scores have

increased.

“That’s what you want -- good, slow, steady progress,” Supt. Susan

Roper said.

She attributes the increasing numbers to the improvement in student

achievement and “a lot of hard work.” Also, the district’s student

assessment has grown.

Using that data, teachers are able to fine-tune and improve their

students’ education.

Crutcher also points to climbing socioeconomic brackets and increased

parental involvement as factors behind the students’ success.

The district also topped the nation and state in the American College

Test results with a score of 23. The nation’s average is 21, and the

state’s is 21.4.

ACT exams test students in English, math, reading and science

reasoning. The test is scored on a scale of one to 35.

Edison High School in Huntington Beach scored highest in both tests.

For the SAT exam, top scores in each subject went to Edison, which had

an average of 533 in the verbal assessment and Marina High School which

had an average of 569 in math.

Edison also scored above all other district schools in three of the

four subjects in the ACT exam. Fountain Valley High School scored highest

in English.