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Terry Grier, Guilford County Schools superintendent, plans to meet with school officials today to figure out how to improve student performance on the SAT this school year.

The meeting comes after the College Board released 2007-08 test results this week showing a nationwide decrease in combined math and reading scores, including among Guilford County students.

College Board officials have attributed the decline to a more diverse group of students taking the exam. Colleges and universities use the exam in deciding whether to admit students.

"I was pleased to see we have more students taking the SAT, particularly African American students," Grier said. "That tells us we have more children considering going to college. At the same time, (scores tell) us we didn’t do as good a job preparing students for the SAT."

Grier will likely talk with his staff about offering online tutorials or a districtwide preparation course for high school juniors, he said.

Guilford students scored an average 985 on the math and reading portions of the test, a 9-point drop from last year. Eleven high schools saw their combined scores drop, including Grimsley, High Point Central, Northeast and Northwest high schools. Eight saw them rise, including Dudley, Middle College at N.C. A&T and Ragsdale.

Middle College at GTCC in Jamestown saw one of the largest declines, dropping from 1073 in 2006 to 941 this year. Principal Tony Watlington explained that the school is placing more emphasis on college placement tests than the SAT because the program targets students seeking a lesser degree or community college credit. Only 11 students at his school took the SAT last year, but at least 80 percent of the juniors and seniors passed their college placement exams, Watlington said.

Despite the lower scores, the district has been successful in motivating more minority students to take the SAT. Guilford increased the number of black students taking the test by

9.4 percent this year, compared to a 5.7 percent increase overall.

Some schools such as Ragsdale and Southeast high schools have been able to boost scores because of their strong tutoring and preparation classes, Grier said, something he would like to replicate elsewhere.

"Our high schools are placing so much attention on trying to make their graduation rate and (Adequate Yearly Progress) that they might have taken their eyes off the SAT ball," Grier said.

Contact Morgan Josey Glover at 373-7078 or mjosey@news-record.com