Free Or Cheap Test Prep For York Students

ELMHURST, IL – For a second year, York High School students can get low-cost or free test preparation for the SAT.

This program comes as the school's average SAT scores have declined in recent years.

This year, Elmhurst School District 205 is paying $35,000 to Florida-based Kaplan to provide test preparation classes.

The program is primarily targeted to juniors. But school board members on Tuesday encouraged York to advertise it to sophomores and seniors as well.

Under the two-year contract, about 700 seats are available in the classes each year.

Last year, about 220 took part.

According to the district, students who attended nearly all the Kaplan sessions scored 28 more points from their PSAT to the SAT than the average of their peers in the junior class.

At Tuesday's board meeting, Kerry Leuschel, the district's executive director of secondary education, said York is working to make sure teachers and counselors promote the program.

"With continuous recruitment, we're confident more students will take advantage of the program," she said.

The Kaplan courses are free for students from low-income backgrounds, those with English as a second language and students with identified learning disabilities.

For students who did not meet benchmarks for math, reading or writing, the cost is $240, with $60 covered by the district. For all others, the price tag is $300.

Kaplan generally charges $800 for the course, officials said.

According to the district, 3 percent of the York students in the Kaplan course last year came from low-income backgrounds. That compares to York's 16 percent low-income rate.

Board member Jim Collins asked whether the district planned to continue teaming up with Kaplan.

Leuschel responded, "We're evaluating it every year to see if it's successful, to see if it's meeting the needs of the community."