This year our juniors will be taking the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Tests) instead of the Smarter Balanced Assessments. It has long been known that high school juniors are not engaged or interested in the state-wide assessments as they perceive these tests as having no value for them (unlike the lower grades where teachers can use these assessments to build a learning plan based on a student's results). While the state is looking for growth, juniors are more apt to be thinking of life after high school.
Last year, Londonderry High School had their juniors take the SAT as a pilot. This was so successful, that the Department of Education and Commissioner Barry wrote this into our waiver. This year, in addition to New Hampshire using the SAT as their mandated state-wide test, Connecticut, Vermont and Maine will be also. There has been nation wide interest in this model with several other states also changing to the SAT for student measurement of juniors.
Raymond students have a unique opportunity. The Raymond School District offers our juniors an SAT "Boot Camp" through Academic Approach. This company has a sterling record of preparing kids for this high stakes test with an average raise in score of 200 points! (We are the only public high school they service- thanks to the efforts of the Reach High Scholars organization.) The training begins in December with a practice test, then, in January, weekly classes start. The students will have about 4 classes before the required SAT test on March 2, 2016 when all juniors will take the SAT during the school day using school staff as proctors.
Academic Approach classes will continue after this March 2 test date with about 7 more classes. This provides our students with an opportunity to have a base score (from the mandatory March test) and then a new, improved score by taking the test again in May or June. Remember that colleges will use the highest of the test scores. Our students have been shown to have wonderful results by following this same pattern- and now, one of the tests will be taken during the school day.
The new SAT is redesigned with two sections: Math and Reading. The essay will be optional but students are encouraged to take this, too. One section of the math requires a calculator, while another section does not allow the use of a calculator. Students will need to answer questions about grammar and punctuation as well as analyzing longer reading passages. The new SAT is said to have more relevant questions.
I am thrilled that we can offer this "Boot Camp" for our students so that they are able to do their best on these tests. An SAT can help a student find the best after-high-school course of action by learning more about their academic strengths. It also helps choose a college or school with the right fit and opens the door for scholarships. If you or your student have any questions about the Boot Camp, please call the high school or talk with our College and Career Counselor, Tricia Wentworth, at 895-6616.
