Madison Co. SAT scores improve slightly

A total of 148 Madison County students in the class of 2012 took the SAT and averaged 1379 on the three-part exam.

That’s seven points higher than the average of 1372 by 172 members of the 2011 graduating class.

Both classes were below the state SAT averages of 1445 in 2011 and 1452 in 2012.

Last year’s senior class showed the greatest improvement in the math portion of the test, with the class of 2012 posting a 467 math average, compared to 453 by the class of 2011. Meanwhile, the critical reading portion was nearly identical to the previous year, with the classes of 2011 and 2012 posting 466 and 465 respectively on this part of the SAT.

Last year’s seniors scored slightly lower than the class of 2011 on the writing portion of the exam, averaging 447 compared to 453 the previous year.

Brittan Ayers, Madison County School System curriculum director for grades six through 12, said an SAT preparation class taught by former MCHS math instructor Sallie Bullock is having a positive impact.

“It’s a three-day SAT prep course and we attribute much of the increase to that,” said Ayers. “We expect that (the prep course enrollment) to grow.”

Bullock said the class includes up to 25 students at a time and is free to MCHS students. It is now offered during school days so that more students have access to the service. The SAT is offered seven times per year: October through January, then March, May and June.