SAT scores for New York City seniors increased by eight points since 2012, while the national scores declined by three points. Credit: John Nordell/The Christian Science Monitor
SAT scores for New York City students improved this year while the national average declined, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced on Tuesday.
“More of our students are taking the SAT and AP tests than ever before, which ought to mean lower scores because of the bigger pool of test takers – but in fact the opposite has occurred, with students here making gains even as students across the country slipped backwards,” he said.
SAT scores for city seniors have increased by eight points since 2012; during the same period, national scores declined by three points.
In critical reading, city scores rose by three points, while national scores remained flat. Writing scores for city students increased by three points, while national scores decreased by one point. And math scores in the city increased by two points, while national scores decreased by two points.
The gains were across all ethnicities, according to the announcement. Black and Hispanic students’ average overall score increased by seven points and 14 points, respectively.
“As we raise academic standards, our students rise to the challenge, and that’s why they are more prepared now for college and careers than ever before,” said Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott.
Advanced Placement scores also improved for city students.
The number of city students passing one or more AP exams increased from 9,700 in 2002 to a record high of 19,500 last year.
