Making the Grade : Roundup of Local SAT Results
Though surrounded by controversy, the Scholastic Assessment Test--formerly called the Scholastic Aptitude Test--continues to be one of the most influential factors in determining who gets into four-year colleges and universities.
The exam includes two sections: a verbal portion that tests reading and vocabulary skills and a math component concentrating on arithmetic, algebra and geometry.
The test has been retooled to reflect a shift toward critical reading and away from the multiple-choice format that has been a staple since the SAT was introduced in 1926. The new test also includes some “grid-in” questions on the math portion, which require test-takers to come up with their own responses instead of choosing from several choices.
Overall scores in the Los Angeles Unified School District declined for the fifth consecutive year, although most students at San Fernando Valley schools do better than their urban counterparts.
Van Nuys High School was the highest-ranked Los Angeles Unified school in the San Fernando Valley, with average scores of 473 on the verbal section and 556 in math. (A perfect scores is 800 in either section.)
Student scores in the Antelope, Conejo and Santa Clarita valleys are generally higher than in Los Angeles Unified.
Scores are for the graduating classes of 1993 and 1994:
State and National
California Averages
Year Verbal Math 1984 421 476 1992 416 484 1993 415 484 1994 413 482
National Averages
Year Verbal Math 1984 426 471 1992 423 476 1993 424 478 1994 423 479
Los Angeles Unified School District
Districtwide Verbal: 1992: 353 1993: 355 1994: 351 *Math: 1992: 432 1993: 432 1994: 424 *
1993 1994 Birmingham Verbal 396 372 Math 483 448 Canoga Park Verbal 349 368 Math 432 450 Chatsworth Verbal 401 400 Math 491 488 Cleveland Verbal 408 409 Math 474 470 El Camino Real Verbal 434 424 Math 520 507 Francis Poly Verbal 328 330 Math 431 415 Granada Hills Verbal 403 403 Math 499 509 Grant Verbal 390 378 Math 483 463 Kennedy Verbal 364 353 Math 469 458 Monroe Verbal 372 372 Math 453 437 North Hollywood Verbal 446 415 Math 503 460 Reseda Verbal 348 341 Math 429 422 San Fernando Verbal 330 321 Math 399 389 Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies Verbal 382 N/A Math 457 N/A Sylmar Verbal 323 313 Math 399 388 Taft Verbal 409 400 Math 502 496 Valley Alternative Verbal 387 N/A Math 412 N/A Van Nuys Verbal 485 473 Math 557 556 Verdugo Hills Verbal 349 351 Math 416 412
Antelope Valley Union High School District
Districtwide Verbal: 1992: 409 1993: 398 1994: 389 *Math: 1992: 463 1993: 447 1994: 444 *
1993 1994 Antelope Valley Verbal 410 382 Math 459 428 Highland Verbal 390 406 Math 444 462 Littlerock Verbal 373 355 Math 433 420 Palmdale Verbal 373 370 Math 413 426 Quartz Hill Verbal 442 433 Math 485 484
Burbank Unified School District
Districtwide Verbal: 1992: 416 1993: 421 1994: 400 *Math 1992: 495 1993: 487 1994: 476 *
1993 1994 Burbank Verbal 415 393 Math 501 488 Burroughs Verbal 429 408 Math 488 461
Glendale Unified School District
Districtwide Verbal: 1992: 424 1993: 420 1994: 413 *Math 1992: 530 1993: 545 1994: 527 *
1993 1994 Crescenta Valley Verbal 442 428 Math 558 529 Glendale Verbal 412 390 Math 540 516 Hoover Verbal 407 412 Math 5384537
Las Virgenes Unified School District
Districtwide Verbal: 1992: 468 1993: 480 1994: 476 *
Math 1992: 537 1993: 546 1994: 542 *
1993 1994 Agoura Verbal 482 488 Math 546 550 Calabasas Verbal 477 461 Math 546 532
William S. Hart Union High School District
Districtwide Verbal: 1992: 439 1993: 445 1994: 436 *Math: 1992: 507 1993: 515 1994: 511 *
1993 1994 Canyon Verbal 427 422 Math 498 506 Hart Verbal 451 446 Math 527 514 Saugus Verbal 453 439 Math 512 512
Sources: College Board, California Dept. of Education and individual school districts; Researched by STEPHANIE STASSEL and MARK BECKER / Los Angeles Times
