Newport-Mesa scores above-average on SAT

Jessica Garrison

NEWPORT-MESA -- The school district’s average SAT score declined

slightly last year, but scores were still above both the state and

national average, according to figures released this week.

“I was pleased that we are still maintaining high scores,” said Peggy

Anatol, the district’s head of testing. “The SAT is the gatekeeper to

college.”

The district’s average score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test last year

was 1,071 out of a perfect score of 1,600 -- down only four points from

1998’s average score of 1,075.

This places the district squarely in the middle of Orange County’s

rankings, behind powerhouses such as Irvine Unified -- with an average

score of 1,159 -- and above districts such as Garden Grove Unified, which

averaged 997. The average score for students in California was 1,011,

which is just below the national average of 1,016.

Costa Mesa High School saw a 44-point increase in its average score,

from 1,000 to 1,044. Newport Harbor saw an eight-point increase, while

Estancia and Corona del Mar high schools both saw 26-point decreases.

Last year, Costa Mesa High School offered a free SAT prep course, paid

for by UC Irvine. Anatol speculated that the course could have

contributed to the large increase in scores posted by students at that

school.

She said district principals have talked of offering SAT preparation

materials to students free of charge. Many area students pay private

tutors hundreds of dollars to help them prepare for the exam.

All district high schools except Newport Harbor had fewer students

take the test last year than in 1998. Newport Harbor posted a huge jump

in test takers -- from 154 students in 1998 to 218 students last year.

Throughout the district, 45% of all seniors took the test, which is

required for admission to most colleges in the United States. That is

slightly above the national average of 43% and slightly below the state

average of 48%.

BOX

Corona del Mar High School

1999 verbal: 540 1999 math: 567

1999 total: 1,107

1998 total: 1,133

Newport Harbor High School

1999 verbal: 525 1999 math: 540

1999 total: 1,065

1998 total: 1,057

Costa Mesa High School

1999 verbal: 502 1999 math: 542

1999 total: 1,044

1998 total: 1,000

Estancia High School

1999 verbal: 486 1999 math: 513

1999 total: 999

1998 total: 1,025