NJ SAT scores drop for 3rd year, but participation remains high
Once a cornerstone of college applications, scores from standardized tests like the SAT are increasingly viewed with less weight by colleges and universities. These institutions are now placing greater emphasis on a comprehensive evaluation of a student's achievements and extracurricular involvement throughout their high school career.
Despite this shift, the latest School Performance Reports from the New Jersey Department of Education reveal that nearly 63% of high school seniors in the 2023-2024 academic year, or in prior years, still opted to take the SAT. This figure represents a slight increase compared to the preceding year.
During the 2023-2024 school year, New Jersey students achieved an average math SAT score of 519 and an average reading/writing score of 530, resulting in a combined average score of approximately 1,049. This represents a decrease from the previous year's average combined score of 1,058. A perfect score on the SAT is a combined 1600, with 800 being the maximum score for each section.
The data consistently shows that students attending magnet schools and specialized public high schools generally attained the highest overall SAT scores. For instance, students at High Technology High School in Monmouth County recorded an impressive average SAT score of 1,512.
Here's a look at districts in Monmouth and Ocean counties:
Math score: 557
Reading and writing score: 563
Combined score: 1,120
Math score: 396
Reading and writing score: 407
Combined score: 803
Math score: 581
Reading and writing score: 588
Combined score: 1,169
Math score: 581
Reading and writing score: 579
Combined score: 1,160
Math score: 556
Reading and writing score: 569
Combined score: 1,125
Math score: 542
Reading and writing score: 555
Combined score: 1,097
Math score: 567
Reading and writing score: 565
Combined score: 1,132
Math score: 594
Reading and writing score: 585
Combined score: 1,179
Math score: 550
Reading and writing score: 575
Combined score: 1,125
Math score: 602
Reading and writing score: 603
Combined score: 1,205
Math score: 469
Reading and writing score: 505
Combined score: 974
Math score: 437
Reading and writing score: 451
Combined score: 888
Math score: 574
Reading and writing score: 581
Combined score: 1,155
Math score: 534
Reading and writing score: 554
Combined score: 1,088
Math score: 569
Reading and writing score: 562
Combined score: 1,131
Math score: 478
Reading and writing score: 477
Combined score: 955
Math score: 749
Reading and writing score: 725
Combined score: 1,474
Math score: 642
Reading and writing score: 670
Combined score: 1,312
Math score: 772
Reading and writing score: 740
Combined score: 1,512
Math score: 666
Reading and writing score: 663
Combined score: 1,329
Math score: 704
Reading and writing score: 694
Combined score: 1,398
Math score: 516
Reading and writing score: 542
Combined score: 1,058
Math score: 528
Reading and writing score: 548
Combined score: 1,076
Math score: 468
Reading and writing score: 503
Combined score: 971
Math score: 517
Reading and writing score: 520
Combined score: 1,037
Math score: 608
Reading and writing score: 601
Combined score: 1,209
Math score: 524
Reading and writing score: 543
Combined score: 1,067
Math score: 547
Reading and writing score: 557
Combined score: 1,104
Math score: 500
Reading and writing score: 509
Combined score: 1,009
Math score: 520
Reading and writing score: 545
Combined score: 1,065
Math score: 507
Reading and writing score: 529
Combined score: 1,036
Math score: 500
Reading and writing score: 528
Combined score: 1,028
Math score: 526
Reading and writing score: 545
Combined score: 1,071
Math score: 530
Reading and writing score: 540
Combined score: 1,070
Math score: 523
Reading and writing score: 537
Combined score: 1,060
Math score: 455
Reading and writing score: 458
Combined score: 913
Math score: 452
Reading and writing score: 460
Combined score: 912
Math score: 512
Reading and writing score: 559
Combined score: 1,071
Math score: 555
Reading and writing score: 571
Combined score: 1,126
Math score: 515
Reading and writing score: 550
Combined score: 1,065
Math score: 539
Reading and writing score: 544
Combined score: 1,083
Math score: 539
Reading and writing score: 554
Combined score: 1,093
Math score: 535
Reading and writing score: 536
Combined score: 1,071
Math score: 541
Reading and writing score: 544
Combined score: 1,085
Math score: 506
Reading and writing score: 533
Combined score: 1,039
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: SAT scores in New Jersey down; 2024 results for Jersey Shore
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