Simsbury High School's 2015 SAT Results

Connecticut public school students increased performance and participation on Advanced Placement (AP) exams according to AP, PSAT and SAT results published recently by the College Board.

The report also shows that the participation of black and Hispanic students, traditionally under-represented groups, increased on AP and SAT exams, according to the state Department of Education.

A total of 29,802 public school students, approximately 85 percent of the state’s graduating class of 2015, took the SAT—a 0.4 percent increase over the class of 2014.

Notably, black and Hispanic students outpaced the statewide participation increases at 5.8 percent and 11 percent, respectively. Overall, Connecticut students continue to outperform peers around the nation in reading and writing, while missing the national average by three points in mathematics.

The average SAT results in Connecticut public high schools were 494 in reading, 495 in mathematics and 494 in writing. Nationally, the averages were 489 in reading, 498 in mathematics and 475 in writing.

At Simsbury High School, 347 students took the SAT; they averaged a 563 in reading, 565 in mathematics, and 564 in writing.

Math will be a focus in the upcoming academic year, the state education department said. As a starting point, State Education Commissioner Dr. Dianna R. Wentzell announced that she will convene educators, industry and business leaders, and experts in math and STEM instruction on a Commissioner’s Council on Mathematics to spearhead the state’s efforts to improve outcomes in math.

This group will be charged with identifying best practices, both in Connecticut and across the nation, and to explore promising innovations in the areas of math and science instruction.

Pending ultimate State Board of Education approval, all students in Grade 11 will take the SAT during the normal school day in 2016. Per federal law, the state must administer one statewide assessment that is aligned to the state’s academic standards in Grade 3-8 and once in high school. In August, Governor Malloy announced that the Connecticut received approval from the U.S. Department of Education to administer school-day SAT in Grade 11 for purposes of satisfying this federal requirement.