news-record.com

GREENSBORO — Guilford County Schools saw SAT scores rise this year, but the district remains a long way from its goal of besting the two largest districts in the state.

Guilford gained back more than half of the 12 points it dropped between 2006 and 2007, according to 2008 data released Tuesday by The College Board. The New York-based not-for-profit administers the widely used college entrance exam.

The SAT tests students in math, critical reading and writing.

Guilford’s gain results in a subscore of 991 for reading and math and a total of 1471 when the writing section is included. Both numbers bring the district closer to the state’s averages of 1007 and 1489, respectively.

“Obviously, there is no magic formula for raising SAT scores, but it is a combination of strategies that achieve results,” Jane Fleming, executive director of the district’s Advanced Learning, said in a statement.

“There is much to celebrate, but our work is not finished. The 2008-09 school year lies ahead, and we will continue our work to increase scores and participation.”

Leaders in Rockingham County Schools also pledged to continue working to improve scores, which fell slightly from the previous year.

The district’s average subscore of 972 is down two points from last year and down 17 points from two years ago.

With writing included, Rockingham’s average score is 1433, which is well below the state average.

“The SAT is a good measure of academics, but this is not the total picture of a child’s academic ability,” Superintendent Rodney Shotwell said in a news release.

Guilford’s drop from 2006 to 2007 prompted district officials to craft a seven-year plan to meet or exceed subscores in reading and math for Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Wake. The plan includes strategies ranging from providing bonuses for teachers leading SAT improvement at their schools to offering free online tutorials for students.

The district has a ways to go yet.

Guilford trails Charlotte-Mecklenburg by 15 points and Wake by 68 when comparing reading and math subscores. That becomes an 18- and 94-point difference, respectively, when writing is added.

The district did meet one of the goals in that plan. Guilford’s participation rate, 66 percent, exceeded the state rate of 63 percent. Charlotte saw a slightly higher rate at 68 percent; Wake reached 74 percent.

And several individual schools saw success, including High Point Central. Scores there jumped from 1388 to 1456. That’s even better than the 1412 Central logged in 2006.

Central encouraged students to take the online tutorial, principal Revonda Johnson said. The response was overwhelming, with groups from the Spanish Club to coaches signing up students, she said.

“We’re planning on continuing it this year,” she said, “because it was successful.”

Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 373-7064 or jennifer.fernandez@news-record.com