Published November 20, 2019
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Lynnfield High students’ SAT scores have increased for the third straight year, Principal Bob Cleary told the School Committee on Nov. 12.
Cleary recalled that the College Board overhauled the SAT exam a few years ago. Before the SAT was updated, students were graded on three different areas on the exam — critical reading, writing and math for a combined score of 2,400. While the SAT still has a math section, the test now has an evidence-based reading section with an optional writing component (ERW) for a total score of 1,600.
“We are pretty happy with the results we are seeing,” said Cleary. “We have seen a steady increase in our SAT scores for both ERW and math. We have always done a nice job outpacing state and national averages.”
The data revealed that the average ERW score for the Class of 2019 was 588, which surpassed the Class of 2018’s average of 580.
Cleary said the high school has been incorporating timed writing assignments into the curriculum in order to help prepare students for the SAT.
“We were focused on that untimed, five paragraph, MCAS long composition essay that we realized we were selling our kids short,” said Cleary. “The SAT has a 25-minute timed writing piece about different types of argumentative or narrative writing. We decided to focus on that now that the long composition essay has been eliminated from the MCAS. I think that has been a big difference.”
Cleary was pleased the Class of 2019’s average SAT math scores had a sizable jump. He said the average math score for the Class of 2019 was 585, which surpassed the Class of 2018’s average score of 568.
“Our math scores have been pretty solid the last two to three years,” said Cleary.
The high school’s average ERW scores surpassed average scores reported at Masconomet Regional High School, North Reading High School, Rockport High School and Wakefield Memorial High School. Cleary said the high school’s average reading and writing scores were lower than Hamilton-Wenham’s average of 598.
Lynnfield High’s average math scores surpassed Rockport and Wakefield’s scores, but the scores were lower than Hamilton-Wenham, Masco, North Reading and Swampscott.
“When you start comparing mean scores, it sometimes doesn’t give you the full picture of what is happening,” said Cleary. “When you are comparing town to town, most affluent communities have mean scores in the high 500s.”
Cleary said 155 out of 163 members of the Class of 2019 took the SAT exam.
“Ninety-five percent of our students are taking the SAT,” said Cleary. “There are very few students not taking it. We are always looking for kids to challenge themselves and take the test.”
The data revealed 18 members of the Class of 2019 earned scores between 700 and 800 on the ERW exam. There were 55 students who received scores between 600 and 699 on the reading and writing exam. Sixty-three students had scores between 500 and 599. There were 14 students who received scores between 400 and 499. There were five students who had scores between 300-399. There were no students who received scores between 200-299 on the SAT’s ERW exam.
The SAT math exam’s results revealed 26 students earned scores between 700 and 800, which Cleary said “more than doubled.” Forty-three students received scores between 600 and 699. There were 59 students who had scores between 500 and 599. There were 23 students who received scores between 400 and 499. There were four students who had scores between 300 and 399 on the SAT math exam. There were no students who received scores between 200 and 299.
Cleary noted SAT-type questions have been used in both English and math classes in order to help students prepare for both sections of the exam.
Guidance Department Head Kathi Moody said high school teachers have used resources from Khan Academy, a nonprofit educational organization that provides tutoring services, in order to help students prepare for the SAT.
“It’s a great free resource,” said Moody.
Moody also said the high school administers the PSAT to sophomores in order to help familiarize students with the exam.
While Cleary was pleased the SAT scores have increased for the third straight year, he stressed that each class is different and shouldn’t be compared.
“It’s cyclical,” said Cleary. “We can see overall trends, but it’s always a little dangerous to compare one year to another. Each class has their own strengths.”
SC pleased
In response to a question from School Committee Chairman Jamie Hayman, Moody said a number of high school students take a SAT prep course. She noted Lynnfield Community Schools still offers a SAT prep course.
“We always say as a disclaimer that we don’t endorse a particular program, but we like Community Schools’ program,” said Moody. “It’s a good value for the money.
Cleary said the Guidance Department can ask seniors about which programs they used at the end of the school year.
School Committee member Stacy Dahlstedt asked how many times students can take the SAT exam.
Moody said students usually take the SAT between two and times. She noted the SAT and ACT exams are now administered in the summer as well as the spring and fall.
School Committee member Phil McQueen was pleased that SAT scores have increased once again.
“This is impressive growth,” said McQueen.
Hayman agreed.
“This committee has pushed the SATs a lot because at the end of the day they matter,” said Hayman. “While classes are different and cyclical, there have been little things done at the school that have made an impact. That should not go unrecognized. We now have a three-year trend of increasing scores in math and reading, which is opposite of where the national trend is going. This is a really nice trend to see. I appreciate what you have done to get us here.”
