Lexington One students surpass SAT, PSAT and AP national averages
September 21, 2015
LEXINGTON, SC – The South Carolina Department of Education released school, district and state SAT® scores and PSAT® scores and school and district results on Advanced Placement exams taken in 2015 as reported by the College Board in Washington, D.C.
SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE TEST (SAT)
SAT Tests in critical reading, mathematics and writing are designed to assess students’ academic readiness for college. Scores can range from 200 to 800 points on each section. A perfect overall score is 2,400.
Lexington County School District One’s 2015 seniors (2015 graduates) exceeded the state and national average in critical reading, mathematics, writing and the average total score. The College Board reports that 875 of Lexington County School District One seniors (1,655) took the SAT in 2015 (53% tested) and had an average total score of 1,520, compared to the national average of 1,490 and the state average of 1,442. Three Lexington One high schools saw an increase in average total score while two saw decreases.
In critical reading, Lexington One 2015 seniors’ average increased 7 points with three high schools seeing increases and two high schools seeing decreases.
In mathematics, Lexington One 2015 seniors’ average decreased 1 point with two high schools seeing increases and three high schools seeing decreases.
In writing, Lexington One 2015 seniors’ average increased 11 points with three high schools seeing increases and two high schools remaining the same.
Average scores for the district and its schools, the state and nation appear in the chart below.
SAT AVERAGE SCORES
2015 Seniors Critical Reading Mathematics Writing Total
Lexington One 512 517 491 1,520
South Carolina 488 487 467 1,442
National 495 511 484 1,490
Gilbert High 486 489 460 1,435
Lexington High 533 546 513 1,592
Pelion High 477 488 166 1,431
River Bluff High 532 536 514 1,582
White Knoll High 480 478 457 1,415
PRELIMINARY SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE TEST (PSAT)
In October of 2014, 1,460 Lexington County School District One 10th-grade students participated in PSAT testing by completing tests in critical reading, mathematics and writing designed to assess students’ academic readiness for college. Scores can range from 20 to 80 points on each section. A perfect overall score is 240.
PSAT AVERAGE SCORES
2014 Sophomores Critical Reading Mathematics Writing Total
Lexington One 43 44 40 127
South Carolina 41 41 38 120
National 42 43 40 125
Gilbert High 41 43 37 121
Lexington High 45 47 43 135
Pelion High 40 40 37 117
River Bluff High 45 46 42 133
White Knoll High 41 41 38 120
Students in the 11th grade can also choose to participate in PSAT testing in order to meet the requirements for National Merit Scholarships (a combined score of at least 209 on all three sections in 2014–2015).
Scores for Lexington One 11th-graders (226) who participated in the October 2014 PSAT testing averaged 52 in critical reading, 54 in mathematics and 52 in writing. The average scores for other 11th-graders across the nation were 47 in critical reading, 49 in mathematics and 45 in writing.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP)
The College Board also reports that in the spring of 2015, 997 Lexington County School District One students took 1,435 Advanced Placement exams.
AP exams are scored on a 1–5 scale. Students must score a three or higher on an Advanced Placement exam in order to be eligible to earn college credit.
Lexington One students earned a score of three or higher for 1,044 exams or 73 percent of the exams taken. Statewide, South Carolina students earned a score of three or higher for 57 percent of the exams taken.
All Lexington One Students Score of 3 Score of 4 Score of 5
Number of exams 442 373 229
