SAT scores for the high school class of 2004 unchanged from 2003 class

Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2004 | 11:18 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

SAT scores for the high school class of 2004 were mostly the same as a year ago, though scores for some minority groups showed an encouraging increase.

The average cumulative score on the country's most widely taken college entrance exam was 1026, the same as for the class of 2003. Scores on the verbal section rose one point to 508 while math scores fell one point to 518.

Nevada's scores were just under the national average with 6,391 test takers earning a mean of 1021. Nevadans scored 507 on verbal and 514 on math. Comparison data to last year's scores was not immediately available for Nevada.

Clark County students' scores dropped slightly as well, from 502 in the 2002-03 school to 500 last year on the verbal portion and from 513 to 509 on the math. However, 10 percent more students took the test last year over the previous year.

The stagnant scores were something of a disappointment following a six-point jump last year from 2002 that produced a 36-year high. But The College Board, which owns the test and was releasing the scores Tuesday, said it was good news that more students are taking the test and signaling they hope to attend college, even if that may have weighed down average results.

There was also some consolation in improved scores for some minorities, who comprised a record 37 percent of the 1.4 million test-takers, also a record.

Students identifying themselves as Mexican American boosted their scores nine points to 909. Scores from those identifying themselves as Puerto Ricans were flat at 909, but students in the "other Hispanic" category increased their scores five points to 926.

Students identifying themselves as of Hispanic origin in Nevada did significantly better than students across the nation, with Mexican American students scoring an average of 967. Students identifying themselves as Puerto Rican scored 992 and students in the "other Hispanic" category scored 976.

Sun reporter Christina Littlefield and the Associated Press contributed to this report.