FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, August 28, 2007

For More Information, Contact:

Jonathan Burman or Tom Dunn at (518) 474-1201

Internet:  http://www.nysed.gov

MORE NEW YORK STUDENTS THAN EVER TAKE SAT, PERFORMANCE DECLINES;

 NEW YORK LEADS IN STUDENTS TAKING AP AND ACHIEVING MASTERY

       New York State SAT and Advanced Placement results released today show more students than ever plan to go to college. More New York students took the SAT – 157,591 or 89 percent of graduating seniors in 2007 vs. 88 percent in 2206. This is the second highest percentage in the nation, behind Maine which now pays for SAT exams.

      The number of minority test takers increased.  The greatest increase in test takers was 15 percent among Hispanics, and almost 10 percent among Black students.

      At the same time, the scores on Critical Reading (formerly verbal) and Math declined in New York. Critical Reading dropped from 493 to 491. Math declined from 510 to 505. The nation also declined: Critical Reading from 503 to 502 and Math from 518 to 515.

      New York leads the nation in the percentage of high school students taking Advanced Placement tests and scoring 3 or better, which indicates mastery. The percentage increased this year in New York, and especially among Black and Hispanic students. In public schools, the percentage of Black students taking AP tests increased by 14 percent; the percentage of Puerto Rican students taking the tests increased by 17 percent, and the percentage of Other Hispanic students taking the tests increased by 10 percent.

      At the same time, the percentage of minority students scoring at least a 3 on the AP exams also increased significantly. This was especially true among Black students in public schools; 24 percent more scored at least a 3.             

        State Education Commissioner Richard Mills said, “More students than ever before from all backgrounds plan to go to college, and that is especially true among African-American and Hispanic students. This is a good thing. AP scores improved, but the average SAT score fell. With the new resources provided for the next school year, schools can help students be better prepared.”             

     “The majority of our students who go on to college attend institutions within New York,” Commissioner Mills said. “This fact highlights the importance of a pre-K – 16 system that encourages and demands high expectations of our students.”

      The PSAT results also show huge increases in participation among sophomores and juniors.  For example,  public school PSAT takers increased 68 percent among Black juniors and more than 80 percent among Hispanic juniors, largely because of district-wide testing in New York City.             

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