Local Students Increase Average Scores on SAT Exam

seniors in the class of 2011 scored higher overall on the SAT than students from previous years and continue to score well above state and national averages, the district announced in a news release Wednesday.

Scores in the district went up two points each in reading and writing while decreasing one point in math. Meanwhile, statewide Washington and national scores went down in both reading and math. State scores gained an average of one point in writing, but national averages fell two points.

Over the last five years, average SAT scores in Washington and nationally have fallen or remained the same. At the same time, LWSD's average scores have increased 11 points in critical reading, nine in math and 16 in writing on average.

“More students are taking the test and scores on average are up,” Superintendent Chip Kimball said in the news release. “We are making progress on our goal to ensure that students are ready for college.”

The total number of SAT test-takers in Lake Washington rose from 1,038 in 2010 to 1,205 in 2011. That number is the highest total in the last five years.

Average critical reading scores in Lake Washington increased two points, from 560 to 562. Reading scores across the state of Washington fell from 524 last year to 523 this year. Nationally, reading scores fell even more, from 500 on average to 497.

Lake Washington math scores fell one point on average for a second year in a row, but those declines followed increases of six points in 2008 and five points in 2009. Lake Washington students averaged 572 this year, compared to 563 in 2007. State math scores averaged 529 this year, down from 531 last year. National scores declined from 515 on average to 514.

Lake Washington continued its track record of increasing writing scores each year with a step up from 555 on average to 557. Washington state scores increased from 507 to 508 while national scores declined from 491 to 489.

Editor's note: This report was taken from a news release. The district also has reported that its students have .