The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) provides colleges with information about how well students are prepared for college-level curriculum. National scores reported are for seniors who anticipated graduating in 2007. If a student took the SAT in his or her junior year, scores are not reported until the following year. In 2007, 57% of graduating public school seniors in S.C. took the SAT; however, 62% (n= 24,081) of all S.C. public school students took the SAT as compared to 48% nationwide (n= 1,494,531). As shown in Table 9, in S.C., more white than black / African-American students and more females than males take the SAT. National and state level data are available regarding demographics of SAT takers, however, county and district-level data are not available.

Spartanburg County students scored higher on the composite SAT than Richland County and Charleston County students. Spartanburg County schools scored lower than Greenville County schools by 11 points. Of all 11 of the individual districts examined, only Spartanburg Districts 4, 6, and 7 scored above the national average SAT composite score of 1017 for 2007, with Landrum, Woodruff, Dorman and Spartanburg High Schools scoring above the national average. Upon examination of district scores by county, no county scored above the national average; however, Spartanburg County and Greenville County scored above the state average.

Spartanburg County districts demonstrated an average increase in SAT composite scores of five points from 2006. Spartanburg County Districts 1, 3, and 6 scored lower in 2007 than in 2006; Spartanburg County District 5 achieved the same score; and Spartanburg County Districts 2, 4, and 7 increased their scores. Greenville and Charleston districts increased average SAT composite scores in 2007 by 10 and 9 points, respectively. Both Richland districts demonstrated decreased scores for an average drop of 15 points from 2006 to 2007.

As shown in Table 10, S.C. students’ scores by race are consistent with national trends. White students scored higher that both black/African-American students and students of other races (including Hispanics, Asians and Pacific Islanders) in all three test categories. Black / African-American students scored lower than other students by race in all three test categories:

Spartanburg County students scored higher on the composite SAT than Richland County and Charleston County students. Spartanburg County schools scored lower than Greenville County schools by 11 points. Of all 11 of the individual districts examined, only Spartanburg Districts 4, 6, and 7 scored above the national average SAT composite score of 1017 for 2007, with Landrum, Woodruff, Dorman and Spartanburg High Schools scoring above the national average. Upon examination of district scores by county, no county scored above the national average; however, Spartanburg County and Greenville County scored above the state average.

Spartanburg County districts demonstrated an average increase in SAT composite scores of five points from 2006. Spartanburg County Districts 1, 3, and 6 scored lower in 2007 than in 2006; Spartanburg County District 5 achieved the same score; and Spartanburg County Districts 2, 4, and 7 increased their scores. Greenville and Charleston districts increased average SAT composite scores in 2007 by 10 and 9 points, respectively. Both Richland districts demonstrated decreased scores for an average drop of 15 points from 2006 to 2007.

As shown in Table 10, S.C. students’ scores by race are consistent with national trends. White students scored higher that both black/African-American students and students of other races (including Hispanics, Asians and Pacific Islanders) in all three test categories. Black / African-American students scored lower than other students by race in all three test categories: