School Board Assesses SAT Scores

The Windham School Board got its first look at the average SAT scores for its high school students on Nov. 16.

According to WHS principal Tom Murphy, 82 total students were involved with the testing. He said that the school has their thoughts of where they should be in comparison to where they are, and right now the numbers could be better.

The average score for critical reading was 523, math was 516 and writing was 508. The numbers came in above state averages, but the school is still enacting several measures to make sure they improve for the future. That includes the purchase of SAT subject test book, allowing teacher to use multiple choice questions for subject specific areas.

There will also be a math specialist working with particular students one day a week starting at the end of second semester.

"We're trying to be as proactive as we can," said Murphy.

Murphy said that when he was a teacher he took a different tact, something that he is encouraging with his educators. He would teach in a way conducive to the SAT testing process, telling his students that when they were done in his class they would do great.

"I pulled the curtain back in April and said this is why we do our essays the way we do them," said Murphy.

WHS also offers a Princeton Review course that was specially selected, but it is underutilized by the kids in the district. Last year only 13 kids took the course for a cost of $499. This year there were none.

Board member Dr. Jeff Bostic suggested offering another way to prepare students in a test-taking format.

"Nobody is taking it, so that's kind of significant," said Bostic.

Bostic was also concerned with the number of students not taking the test. Murphy said that he hopes that they will be taking it their senior year, simply going by a different test-taking schedule in their college preparations.

Superintendent Dr. Henry LaBranche said that the expectations of the board are not the way the world works. The high school has only been operable for just over two years and it is a process for the district to reach its goals.

"We think this is good baseline data. We're at state average or above for public students."