Published in the September 22, 2016 edition
By BOB TUROSZ
NORTH READING — The 2016 Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores at North Reading High School in critical reading, writing and mathematics rose again this year showing significant improvement over 2015 and previous years. The North Reading scores are also far higher than state and national average.
North Reading’s combined score on all three tests was 1646, the high school’s highest since 2013 (which were the school’s highest in 20 years). North Reading’s combined scores were nearly 100 points higher than the state average (1553) and much higher than the national average, (1484).
North Reading High School Principal AJ Loprete said he was very happy with the results, noting there’s been a steady upward trend in the last half dozen years.
In critical reading, North Reading’s score of 551 was its highest since at least 2006, 12 points higher than 2015 and 34 points higher than the state (517) and 57 higher than the national (494).
In writing, North Reading improved by 14 points from 2015, to 541. This is North Reading’s highest writing score since 2013. The local score is 35 points above the state average and 59 points higher than the national.
In mathematics, North Reading’s score of 554 eclipsed last year’s mark by seven points and is NRHS’s highest since 2013. North Reading’s 554 is 24 points higher than the state and 46 points higher than the national.
The news was similarly encouraging on the ACT, another national test that is gaining on the SATs in popularity. ACTs are intended to measure the skills needed for students to have success in their first–year college coursework.
According to the ACT, 76 North Reading High School students took the ACT exam in 2016, more than double the number (33) who took them in 2012.
In the ACT English Composition exam, 92 percent of NRHS students demonstrated college readiness, versus 85 percent in the state. In Algebra, 84 percent of NRHS students were judged college–ready compared to 74 percent in the state.
In Social Science, 82 percent of NRHS students showed the necessary skills to succeed at the college level, as opposed to 71 percent for the state. In Biology, 71 percent of local students were college–ready versus 61 percent in the state. Sixty–one percent of North Reading High School students met the standard for college–ready skills in all four subjects versus 53 percent for the state.
The SAT and ACT scores reflect the “real success” of the school’s approach and classroom experience of the students, said Loprete. “Are we happy with the curriculum, the instruction, the student–teacher interaction with the content? This data is very reassuring we’ve got things going in the right direction,” Loprete said.
“To have an increase in the past two years in all three SAT areas certainly reflects that.”
North Reading’s critical reading score of 551 is its highest since 2006, when the verbal SAT exam was split into to portions, reading and writing.
“Massachusetts is the national leader in education, we kind of drive the ship. And while the state scores are up minimally, North Reading is up 13, 14 points,” he said.
“There’s certainly a cultural piece. The students are very focused on their education and committed to doing their best. Another large part of it is the teacher commitment. We’ve added staff and sections to reduce class sizes and maximize student–teacher interaction. We try to balance that with student wellness and attention to other activities. “
“To see increases across the board in SAT and ACT scores is very satisfying,” he said. North Reading’s ACT scores had at least a one point increase across the board in all scores.
“I think that’s reflective of our attention to that student–teacher content dynamic and how to best make that work.
“Certainly the new building and the access to technology plays a role and I think the teachers are using technology in a way that supports the curriculum but doesn’t over–manage it.”
