LYNNFIELD — While Lynnfield High students are shining when it comes to MCAS and AP tests, the SATs continue to trend in a downward direction.
Principal Patricia Puglisi said that SAT scores dropped in 2024. The average Math SAT score dipped to 544, down from 567 in 2023 and 586 in 2022. The average Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) SAT score also dropped to 565, down from 574 in 2023 and 586 in 2022. Puglisi added that test data was based only on the final tests taken, which don’t necessarily reflect students’ highest scores.
Despite the drop, Lynnfield has still outperformed the national and state averages for the last three years. 2024 scores also continue to meet college benchmarks, with 83% of students exceeding the ERW mark of 480 and 59% exceeding the math mark of 510.
“Scores are a little lower than the prior two years and we are going to dig deeper into that data,” Puglisi said. “And there is some work to do in looking at the math SATs.”
While 2024 marked the third straight year that SAT scores have dropped, Advanced Placement test results continue to be strong. More than 77% of 523 tests taken received a minimum score of 3, with 215 students taking at least one AP course last year.
For a second straight year, Lynnfield achieved AP Honor Roll status for expanding access to AP courses for all students, while maintaining strong scores with 77 students achieving AP scholar status. Of that 77, 24 students were AP Scholars with Distinction honors (minimum average score of 3.5 on all AP tests and a minimum score of 3 on at least 5 exams), 23 students were AP Scholars with Honor (minimum average score of 3.25 on all tests and minimum score of 3 on at least 4 exams), and 30 students were AP Scholars (minimum score of 3 on at least 3 exams).
The most popular AP courses in 2024 were Psychology (103 exams with 53.4% scoring at 3 or higher), English Literature and Composition (59 exams with 93% scoring at 3 or higher), and English Language and Composition (46 exams with 89% scoring at 3 or higher). Every student taking the 2-D Art and Design (2), Calculus BC (4), Computer science A (14), Human Geography (1) and US Government and Policy (1) scored 3 or higher. The only tests to fall short of the 50% mark were Macroeconomics (22 tests, 27% at 3 or higher), Statistics (24 tests, 33% at 3 or higher), Physics C Mechanical (17 tests, 41% at 3 or higher) and Spanish Language and Culture (38 tests, 45% 3 or higher).
“Some things stand out to me,” Puglisi said. “A score of 3 or higher is very high so our teachers have been able to bring those students to those high levels. The goal is to push forward so that every Lynnfield High student has taken at least one college-level course by graduation.”
Assistant Superintendent Adam Federico said it’s more than just having good scores; it’s also about the fact that students aren’t limited in being able to take AP courses.
“I want to commend the high school for wanting to expand (that opportunity) more,” he said.
Committee member Jamie Hayman said AP courses are extremely challenging.
“These are rigorous courses. They are really hard and I say that in a positive way because our kids go in really prepared,” he said.
Committee member Jim Dillon said he knows of one school where students must maintain a minimum A- grade and have department approval to take an AP course. He observed that Lynnfield High, on the other hand, invites all students “to challenge themselves and take an AP course.”
The MCAS Grade 10 English Language Arts Test results show the school outperformed the state by large margins with the percentage of students exceeding or meeting expectations rising slightly from 2023 to 2024. The percentage of students partially meeting expectations dipped, while the percentage of students not meeting expectations rose. Puglisi said the average score of 520 represents the highest growth in the last four years.
Puglisi said highlights include a 4% increase in the percentage of students exceeding expectations.
Action items included stepped-up analysis of data and regular data team meetings. Other areas targeted for growth included professional development for co-teaching models, online assessment practice by students and writing idea development focusing on the use of multiple sources, annotation, and reading comprehension/vocabulary in context.
In Grade 10 Math, students also saw a slight increase from 77% to 78% in meeting and exceeding expectations, which Puglisi said was nearly 30% higher than the state average. The percentage of those exceeding expectations rose slightly, while those meeting expectations and partially meeting expectations dipped. The percentage of students not meeting expectations also rose slightly to 5%. Overall, the numbers for each individual standard are 14% higher than the state average.
Lynnfield students also exceeded the state averages in meeting/exceeding expectations in Science, Technology and Engineering. The percentage of students exceeding expectations dropped compared to last year, but the percentage of students meeting expectations saw a significant increase. There were no students who did not meet expectations.
Puglisi said while there were concerns about a loss of instruction time for biology classes, the percentage of students meeting/exceeding expectations grew to its highest rate since 2020.
Action items include a review of formal science writing practices and requirements, a process expected to further develop comprehension and communications, which Puglisi said are increasingly more important on the 10th grade biology test.
Anne Marie Tobin can be reached at [email protected]
