By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — Lynnfield High School’s SAT scores dropped last year, Principal Bob Cleary said during the School Committee’s Nov. 29 meeting.

The SAT exam grades students on two different sections, and students can receive a maximum score of 1,600. The test includes an evidence-based reading portion that includes an optional writing component (ERW) along with the math exam.

Cleary said 126 out of the 141 members of the Class of 2022 took the SAT exam during their junior year. He recalled that only 55 members of the Class of 2021 took the SAT.

“The number of students who took the SAT was a little bit lower, but was way up from the year before,” said Cleary. “We normally have 90 percent of students taking the SAT, but last year was about 80 percent. I think that is from the fallout from COVID, as a lot of schools went either test-optional or weren’t even requiring SATs. We had discussions with students about it. Some students decided to take it early, and then decided not to take it a second time because they felt they didn’t need it for the school they were going to. If you looked at the list of schools our students ended up, there wasn’t a huge drop off. Our students are still getting into great schools and are having a wonderful experience.”

The data revealed that the Class of 2022 received an average mean score of 552 on the ERW exam, which was lower than the Class of 2021’s average mean score of 599. The Class of 2022’s median ERW exam was lower than the state average of 567.

According to the data, the Class of 2022’s average mean score on the math section equaled 560, which was less than the Class of 2021 average mean score of 599. The state average on the Class of 2022 math exam was 561.

While Cleary said the Class of 2022’s median SAT scores were “pretty consistent compared to prior years,” he acknowledged that the scores “dropped a little bit more” than LHS officials anticipated.

The data revealed 13 members of the Class of 2022 earned scores between 700 and 800 on the ERW portion of the SAT exam. There were 29 students who received scores between 600 and 699. Forty-six students had scores between 500 and 599. There were seven students who earned scores between 400 and 499.

There were 13 students who received scores between 700 and 800 on the SAT math exam. There were 25 students who received scores between 600 and 699. There were 53 students who had scores between 500 and 599. There were 33 students who earned scores between 400 and 499. Two students earned scores between 300-399.

Cleary said the high school’s median ERW and math exam scores have traditionally been the mid- and upper-500 range.

“If we were flirting with scores in the low 500s or high 400s, I would be a little bit worried,” said Cleary. “Even though the scores dropped, I think it is something we can recover from.”

School Committee member Jamie Hayman asked if the high school knows which 15 members of the Class of 2022 did not take the SAT exam.

School Counseling Head Kathryn Moody said no.

“In order for us to do that, we would have to look at every single kid who did take it to see who didn’t,” said Moody. “We didn’t do that type of research.”

Cleary said the College Board sent the median SAT scores to the high school. He said LHS officials can look into Hayman’s request.

While the high school had been incorporating SAT-type questions into classes, Cleary said LHS put that initiative on the back burner due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The SAT prep that is normally done in classes wasn’t being done because we were trying to cover the curriculum, making sure students were in a good place and students were getting what they needed,” said Cleary.

School Committee member Phil McQueen inquired if colleges and universities will be looking to drop requiring SAT scores permanently.

“They are making a comeback,” said Moody. “The Florida system never dropped it. The NCAA dropped it for athletes, and they might bring it back. California’s system has gone completely test-blind, and I don’t think they are going to bring it back. UMass has put it on hold for another two years, and most of the New England state schools have put it on hold for a couple of years. It wouldn’t surprise me if it came back, but I also know there are a large number of schools that have historically been test-optional that our students have enjoyed applying to and going to.”

If a student submits SAT scores to a college, Moody said schools “want to see high scores even if a school is test-optional.”

McQueen recalled that a number of education experts were predicting during the pandemic that “the SAT was dead and the College Board was following with it.”

“But that obviously didn’t happen,” said McQueen.

Moody concurred with McQueen’s point of view.

“The College Board is struggling,” said Moody. “They definitely took a hit. I think some schools are just not ready to give it up.”

Hayman said the LHS Class of 2022’s SAT scores “were not what I expected them to be.” He recalled that the high school has been working to improve SAT scores over the last decade.

“I am struggling with how much of this is COVID, how much is test-optional and how much of this is reflective of something that maybe going on,” said Hayman. “I don’t want us to dismiss it as COVID and all of these other things when there might be something that needs to change.”

School Committee member Kate DePrizio said she was surprised that the high school’s SAT scores dropped.

“I think we were all surprised by the numbers,” said DePrizio.

Cleary said the high school has resumed incorporating SAT-type questions into classes, which he said should help SAT scores increase.

“They were not the numbers we were expecting to see, but it was also not that surprising given all of the factors,” said Cleary. “But we are now getting back to prepping students a little bit more.”

Moody also said students’ perceptions about the SAT have changed.

“There is definitely a mind shift,” said Moody. “In our conversations with juniors and seniors, there are less students doing test prep because the test-optional idea has sunk in. That impacts how students feel about all of the preparation for the test.”

“That makes sense,” said Hayman.

In response to a question from Hayman, Moody said members of the LHS Class of 2022 are studying around the country and the world.

“We have students in the South, Indiana and Wisconsin,” said Moody. “It’s not just the coasts. The Midwest is starting to become a place students are talking about. That is a good thing and makes me believe they are reaching for something that they want to do.”

Hayman also recalled that Lynnfield High previously required sophomores and juniors to take the PSAT. He noted that the Class of 2022 did not have that opportunity to take the practice test due to the pandemic.

“Hopefully this is just a blip,” said Hayman.

School Committee Chair Rich Sjoberg recalled that the Class of 2022 missed the last quarter of their freshmen year when the state closed schools due to the pandemic. He also noted that the Class of 2022 participated in the district’s hybrid learning model during their sophomore year, and students’ junior year was held in-person while COVID restrictions were still in effect.

“My son is applying to schools up and down the East Coast, and not one of them is requiring the SAT,” said Sjoberg. “They are all schools Lynnfield High alumni are attending or have attended. The SAT process is different now with the thought of it and the preparation that goes into it.”

Superintendent Kristen Vogel said the SAT exam is “just one data point.”

“Colleges are looking at the whole child and what they bring to the table,” said Vogel. “I think the shift that some colleges are moving away from test-optional is to focus on everything else that the student brings. We all know that the SAT is not a predictor of success in college and is not a predictor of success outside of college. I think colleges have moved back to looking at the test’s scores because they were so overwhelmed with the number of applicants, and they didn’t have a way to decide. Admissions offices across the country are struggling with this right now. The SAT is an important data point, but it is just one data point. It’s important to remember our students bring so much to the table, which is why they are getting into such great schools.”