REGION: State data shows students in wealthier areas far more likely to take SATs

Average scores vary throughout North County

By STACY BRANDT - Staff Writer | Saturday, April 19, 2008 7:03 PM PDT ∞

La Costa Canyon High School students enjoy their Advanced Placement English Literature class Wednesday, taught by Speed Farris. La Costa Canyon is in the wealthy San Dieguito Union School District, where a much higher percentage of students take the Scholastic Achievement Tests compared to students in poorer districts, state data show. (BILL WECHTER/Staff Photographer)

NORTH COUNTY -- A much larger percentage of students in wealthier areas are taking key college-preparatory tests, compared with students in poorer districts, according to data provided by the state.

Educators said the reasons this happen are varied, but it's often because of family attitudes about higher education or a lack of awareness about the tests.

Numbers from the California Department of Education show a huge disparity among local school districts in the percentage of students taking Scholastic Achievement Tests, commonly known as the SATs.

The tests, which gauge math, critical reading and writing skills, are used to help graduating seniors gain admittance to four-year colleges and universities.

In coastal North County's wealthy San Dieguito Union High School District, about 75 percent of last year's graduating class took the tests, according to the state numbers. That's 1,532 of last year's 2,038 seniors in that district.

That's about twice the state and county average percentage, according to the data, which shows 38 percent, of San Diego County seniors -- 14,693 students -- took the tests last year. That is slightly more than the state average of 37 percent, or 441,198 students.

North County school districts with the smallest percentage of students taking the tests appear to be those with the highest percentage of poor and minority students, including districts in Vista, Oceanside, San Marcos and Escondido.

In Oceanside Unified schools, only 26 percent of last year's seniors took the tests, according to the state data.

'There's never a simple answer'

The number of students who have taken the exams can be an important indicator of how many students are on track to attend four-year universities, local educators said.

Districts, such as Oceanside Unified, with a high percentage of poor and minority students can have a more difficult time getting students to take the tests, as those students typically are less likely to attend college, the data show.

Countywide, nearly 58 percent of Asian students and 39 percent of white students took the college-preparatory exam in the 2004-05 school year, while only 22 percent of Latino students did, according to data from the state Department of Education.

That school year is the most recent report the department has that's broken down by ethnicity.

There are many reasons why wealthier students and certain ethnic groups might be more apt to take the tests than some of their classmates, local educators said.

"There's never a simple answer to such a complicated question," said Rick Schmitt, associate superintendent for the San Dieguito High School District.

Key factors that affect whether or not a student takes the tests and ultimately moves on to college are the income and education level of parents, school officials said.

Parents who haven't gone to college may not understand the steps necessary to get into a four-year university or might not value a college education, said Michael Hargrove, director of assessment and evaluation for Oceanside Unified.

"Sometimes there isn't the family support or family encouragement to go on and take the SATs," he said.

Support and encouragement

Many districts throughout the county are trying to prepare students for the exams by offering them the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test.

At Escondido High School, all 10th-grade students take the preliminary test. That has helped the school increase the number of students taking Scholastic Achievement Tests the following year, Principal Sue Emerson said.

Escondido student also have access to a free online preparatory program, she said.

"We definitely would like to see more students taking it," Emerson said. "It's something that's a schoolwide and districtwide effort."

Tyler Arant, a senior at the school, said that taking the preliminary test helped him prepare for the main tests and relieved some exam anxiety.

Still, some students say more could be done.

Nestor Venegas, a senior at Vista High School, said he thinks schools could do a better job letting students know about the tests and why they are important -- especially for students who are on the fringes academically.

"They might not know exactly what an SAT is or how to get it," he said.

'It's just part of what happens here'

Not only do more students take the tests in wealthier district's, students in those high schools tend to earn higher scores, according to state figures.

In San Dieguito high schools, the average score last year was 1,705, well above the state average of 1,497 and the county average of 1,515. Students can earn scores between 600 and 2,400 on the test.

The only North County district where students scored below the state average last year was the Escondido Union High School District, with an average score of 1,491. Most local districts had average scores in the 1,500s, the state numbers show.

San Dieguito officials said they're pleased with the scores and proud that so many students take the test.

"It's a combination of great community support, great teaching and learning in our district, and the fact that we have a history of kids doing well," said Schmitt.

"Those (groups of students) who typically don't sit for the test, they do here," he added. "They're not intimidated by it, because it's just part of what happens here."

Contact staff writer Stacy Brandt at (760) 901-4009 or sbrandt@nctimes.com.