Boston students show dramatic improvement in both participation and scores on 2003 SATs

BOSTON - Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and School Superintendent Thomas W. Payzant joined with Education Commissioner David P. Driscoll today to release the results of the Scholastic Achievement Test (SATs) for Boston's Class of 2003, showing record student participation and improvement on both verbal and math.

In 2003, a total of 2,373 students sat for the SATs in Boston, accounting for 65% of the senior class. Last year, 2,216, or 56% of the class, took the exams. On the verbal section, Boston students had a mean score of 434 in 2003, a nine point gain over last year's 425. On the math exam, Boston students had a mean score of 453, a nine point improvement over last year's 444. Boston has shown steady improvement since 1995 with 28-point gains on both sections of the exam (verbal from 406 to 434 and math from 425 to 453).

Overall, students in Massachusetts had a mean verbal score of 516 in 2003 up from 512 in 2002. The mean math score for the state was 522 in 2003 up from 516 in 2002. Nationwide, the mean score for verbal was 507 in 2003, up from 504, and the math score for 2003 was 519, up from 516 in 2002.

Mayor Menino and Superintendent Payzant said that the steady improvement in the city's performance on the SATs is another example of the hard work taking place every day in the Boston Public Schools.

"As we all know, there are many ways to gauge success in schools. Boston's improved SAT scores are just another measure of progress that we are making," Mayor Menino said. "This is further proof that our reform efforts are paying off, particularly at the high school level where the challenge has historically been difficult."

Superintendent Payzant pointed to the district's extensive work on core subjects as a reason for the increase in scores.

"The rate of improvement on the SAT in Boston is further evidence that our focus on literacy and math is working for students," Superintendent Payzant said. "We will continue with that concentration when we open schools in September, both in the classroom for students and outside the classroom with professional development for teachers."

For more information on SAT scores for Massachusetts, please visit the state Department of Education website at www.doe.mass.edu. For more information on the SAT scores nationwide, please visit the College Board website at www.collegeboard.com.