Newport-Mesa’s SAT scores soar

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT-MESA -- While the school district’s average SAT scores

continue to blow away both state and national averages, they are also

beating their own records.

The average verbal score for high school seniors in the Newport-Mesa

Unified School District is up five points from last year’s 523 to 528 --

31 points higher than the state average and 23 points higher than the

national average.

In math, Newport-Mesa’s average score for seniors is 560 -- an

increase of 12 points over last year’s average, 42 points higher than the

current average in California and 44 points higher than the national

average.

“We’re doing something right,” said trustee Martha Fluor. “There’s

always room for improvement but I think that it’s an indicator, from a

school board perspective, that we raised standards and the teachers are

meeting the call and students are stepping up to the plate.”

Also impressive to note is that last year, Newport-Mesa seniors only

improved upon the previous year’s scores by two and six points in

comparison to this years five- and 12-point leaps.

“If Newport-Mesa is increasing five and 12 points, one would hope that

to be an indicator that the curriculum program is helping students to be

more proficient on this test,” said Peggy Anatol, director of assessment

and secondary curriculum for the district.

The hike in test scores in Newport-Mesa, however, is just one of the

great pieces of news that came in with the SAT report Tuesday.

Not only are district averages up, but so are the numbers of test

takers. More students than ever before took tests, indicating an

increased intent to go to college.

“I’m impressed by the number of students who took the test this year

because it’s like a gateway to college,” Anatol said.

The number of students at Costa Mesa High School who tested jumped

from 78 to 98 this spring. At Corona del Mar High School, it hiked from

174 to 196 and at Estancia High School it nearly doubled from 40 seniors

to 74 seniors.

At Newport-Mesa’s largest school, Newport Harbor High School, the

number increased by 73 students to a total of 286 test takers.

“I’m encouraged,” Anatol added. “This is good news. It’s nice to see

positive improvement.”

BOX:

District average scores for high school seniors only:

Verbal: 528

Math: 560

Average scores for all high school students taking the test:

Costa Mesa High School

Verbal: 530

Math: 542

98 students tested

Corona del Mar High School

Verbal: 549

Math: 582

196 students tested

Estancia High School

Verbal 515 Math 543

74 students tested

Newport Harbor High School

Verbal 541

Math 563

286 students tested