LYNNFIELD — The test results are in and, once again, the students at Lynnfield High School have gone to the head of the class.
For a fourth straight year, the average score on the SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing test (ERW) increased with the mean score now topping out at 588, eight points above the 2018 mean of 580.
In math, the average score rose by a whopping 17 points to a mean of 585. The increase was the third in the last four years.
“We are pretty happy with the results and the kids always seem to do a very nice job,” said Lynnfield High principal Bob Cleary, who presented the results with guidance director Kathryn Moody to the members of the School Committee this week.
“We also continue to be outpacing the state (559 for ERW, 561 for math) and national (531 for ERW, 528 for math) averages on both the ERW and Math tests so the last two or three years have been pretty solid.”
Moody said she thinks part of the reason for the improvement in the scores could be increased utilization of tutor services, such as Khan Academy.
“Students can link their accounts directly with their test scores to design a personalized test prep plan that is unique to that particular student. After the December PSAT, we give this to the students and walk them through what they need to do to set up an account.”
Cleary said he is pleased with the scores compared to neighboring schools such as Masconomet, Hamilton-Wenham, Wakefield and North Reading.
“All of these schools are in the high-500s, so we have been doing pretty good to be at or near the top,” Cleary said. “But as good as that is, the mean scores really don’t tell us what is really happening when looking at these affluent towns similar to our range.
“I like to look at the fact that in math, for example, the number of students in the 700-800 range has more than doubled and the 600-699 range is also up. That tells us the individual kids are performing really well, so I am excited about that. The average scores don’t show this.”
Cleary also noted that while the students at the top who have shown major improvement, the students at the lower end of the range are also showing improvement.
“In 2016 we had double-digit numbers of kids in the 300-399 range on both tests and now those are both in single digits, so it’s not just the upper group that is improving, but the lower-performing kids are also making major gains.”
Moody said students on average take the SAT two to three times.
“Both the SAT and ACT now have summer courses and students have taken advantage of the opportunity to take the test when things aren’t so busy.”
Ninety-five percent of Lynnfield’s students took the test this year.
When asked by chairman Jamie Hayman why students did not take the test, Cleary said there were many reasons, such as students going into the military or students applying to test-optional schools.
Moody cited other reasons such as students who are going directly to North Shore Community College and students who were still undecided about their post-Lynnfield plans.
