Wisconsin Students Again Score High on SAT

Wisconsin public high school seniors continue to outscore the nation and private school students on the SAT college entrance exam, according to data released Tuesday (August 31, 1999). Wisconsin students were once again among the top handful on both the verbal and math portions of the SAT.

The 4,295 Wisconsin students who took the SAT scored 584 on the verbal portion of the exam, up 3 points from last year, and 595 on the math exam, a gain of 1 point from last year.

Wisconsin’s scores on the SAT have been increasing steadily over the past 13 years. The math score is higher than at any time in history.

Nationally, 1,220,130 students took the SAT. Their verbal score held constant from the previous year at 505; the math score was down 1 point to 511.

The SAT, administered by the College Board, is scored from 200 to 800.

“Especially noteworthy is the fact that Wisconsin public school students have significantly higher scores than religious and independent private schools on both sections of the test,” WEAC President Terry Craney said. “Anyone challenging the quality of public schools needs to look at hard data like college entrance exam results to see that public schools are working for Wisconsin.”

Seven percent of Wisconsin students took the 1999 SAT. Wisconsin’s SAT scores have steadily increased over the last decade.

About two-thirds of Wisconsin students took the 1999 ACT college entrance exam, which is required by most Wisconsin colleges. Wisconsin has had the highest ACT scores in the nation for the last seven years.

“ACT and SAT results are more proof that Wisconsin public schools are doing an outstanding job preparing students for life and jobs of the future,” Craney said. “They show that teachers and support personnel are working hard to make sure every school is a great school.”

Posted August 31, 1999