FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, August 29, 2000

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Daniel A. Domenech has released the scores for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) seniors in the class of 2000 who took the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT I) Reasoning Test. On the mathematics section of the SAT I, FCPS students scored much higher than students in the nation and in Virginia, with an average score of 556, compared to 514 nationwide, and 500 statewide. On the verbal section of the SAT I, FCPS students also scored significantly higher than students in the nation and in Virginia with an average score of 542, compared to 505 nationwide, and 509 statewide.

Commenting on the scores, Domenech said, “Although our scores have fluctuated over the last five years, we are pleased with the overall upward trend. I am particularly pleased that the average score for the mathematics section is at a six-year high. In one area, scores declined, and we will, of course, be looking closely at this area.” Following are highlights of the SAT I results for FCPS:

• When compared with 1999 scores, the FCPS average verbal score increased one point, and the math score increased three points. Nationally, the average verbal score remained unchanged, and the math score increased three points. In Virginia, both the verbal and the mathematics scores increased one point. (See Table 1.)
  
  
• Math scores in FCPS have increased by nine points for both females and males since 1995. (See Table 2.)
  
  
• Verbal and math scores for all FCPS ethnic groups exceeded all national and state averages for ethnic groups. (See Table 3.)
  
  
• FCPS Asian students’ scores exceeded national Asian students’ scores by 21 points on the verbal section and 18 points on the math section. (See Table 3.)
  
  
• FCPS Black students’ scores exceeded national Black students’ scores by 36 points on the verbal section and 41 points on the math section. (See Table 3.)
  
  
• FCPS Hispanic students’ scores exceeded national Hispanic students’ scores by 46 points on the verbal section and 53 points on the math section. (See Table 3.)
  
  
• FCPS White students’ scores exceeded national White students’ scores by 38 points on the verbal section and 41 points on the math section. (See Table 3.)

Attachments:

Table 1:
SAT I Average Scores for Fairfax County Public Schools, Virginia, and the Nation, 1995 Through 2000

Table 2:
SAT I Average Scores for Fairfax County Public Schools by Gender, 1995 Through 2000

Table 3:
SAT I Average Scores for Fairfax County Public Schools, Virginia, and the Nation by Ethnicity, 1996 Through 2000

Table 4:
SAT I Average Scores for Individual Schools’ Senior Graduating Classes, 1995 Through 2000

Flier:
Description of the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT I) and Cautions in Interpreting School Results