AP scores also increased.
BALTIMORE (October 26, 2018) – The mean SAT score for graduating seniors in Maryland public schools increased by 20 points for the class of 2018, according to data released today.
The composite score for graduating Maryland public school students improved to 1066 for the class of 2018, up from 1046 in 2017. That compares to a national public school average of 1049, up three points from 1044 in 2017.
The State’s improvement on the SAT came as a record number of graduating students took the exam. A total of 40,639 members of the class of 2018 took the SAT, compared to 36,459 in 2017.
“Ensuring that every young Marylander has access to a world-class education is our top priority, and our administration has made record investments in K-12 education so our students have the opportunity to achieve their dreams,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “I am proud to see our students thriving, and I congratulate the Class of 2018, as well as the leadership, teachers, and parents that contribute to their success, both now and in the future.”
Dr. Karen Salmon, State Superintendent of Schools, said the assessment results indicate a growing number of Maryland students are better prepared for college or the workforce as they complete high school.
“These tests serve as an important yardstick for our students as they ready themselves for life after graduation,” Dr. Salmon said. “The better prepared our graduates, the more likely they are to enter college or their first job with a clear pathway to success.”
The College Board today related 2018 data for the SAT, which underwent considerable changes two years ago. The organization dropped a required separate writing test, which it added a decade ago, and changed other facets of the test at that time.
The mean score for the evidence-based reading and writing section (English language arts) for Maryland public school students in the class of 2018 students is 538, compared to 528 for the class of 2017, while the mean score for mathematics is 528 compared to 518 in the class of 2017. The SAT tests are scored on a 200 to 800-point scale for each section.
The College Board also released data on the Advanced Placement tests for 2018. Today’s release was preceded by the release last week of ACT test data.
SAT Results
Maryland’s SAT results improved across-the-board in 2018. The mean composite score for Asian students increased from 1164 to 1221; for African American students, up from 937 to 947; for Hispanic students from 1013 to 1024, and for White students from 1134 to 1142.
Male students from Maryland had a mean score of 1075, while female students’ mean was 1058. Females scored better on the evidence-based reading and writing portion (540 compared to 535), while males had a higher mean score on mathematics (540 to 519).
SAT results are scheduled to be released today at www.collegeboard.org.
ACT Results
Although SAT remains the dominant exam in Maryland, a record number of graduating seniors in the State took the ACT in 2018. There were 15,100 members of the class of 2018 who took the ACT, a big increase over the 12,664 for the class of 2017.
The average composite score for Maryland public school students dipped for the Class of 2018, to 22.1 from 23.4 for the class of 2017. Maryland’s scores remain above the national average, 20.8, which dipped slightly from 21.0 in 2017.
Maryland public school students scored above the national averages in all four ACT categories, English (21.4 to 20.2), mathematics (21.8 to 20.5), reading (22.6 to 21.3) and science (21.9 to 20.7). The ACT is scored on a 1-36 point scale.
ACT results are available on its website, www.act.org.
Advanced Placement
The College Board in early 2019 will release its annual look at AP by graduating cohort, but today released some raw numbers for Maryland test takers.
Nearly 60,000 Maryland students (58,537) took at least one AP test in 2018 across all grades, about the same as the previous school year. The number of exams taken—110,147—also was on par with 2017. However, the number of students scoring a 3, 4 or 5 increased – from 69,928 in 2017 to 72,090 in 2018.