More FLHS Students Taking SATs, Scoring Higher

Not only are a growing number of students taking the SAT, their average scores on the test are increasing, according to this year's annual state School Report Card.

Released Thursday, the School Report Card provides a district-by-district overview of public school performance across the state, with information on student demographics and performance, staff information and district financial data for the 2010-2011 school year.

More than 90 percent of Fair Lawn High School students took the SAT last year, an increase of 14 percentage points from just two years prior. The increase outpaces that seen across public high schools in the state and within Fair Lawn's own district factor group (DFG), both of which have seen SAT participation jump 10 percentage points since the 2008-09 school year.

Rather than the influx of new test takers bringing down the school's average performance on the test, Fair Lawn has actually seen a slight performance increase in all sections of the SAT since 2008-2009.

Contrast that to the average performance of students in the state and within the "GH" district factor group, both of which took a slight dip in performance between 2009-10 and 2010-11, as more students opted to take the SAT.

Superintendent Bruce Watson said he attributes the school's improvement to a composite of factors, and compared the district to a football team that needs all the pieces -- players, coaches and front office -- to come together win a championship.

For one, he said, the high school's teachers -- both in the higher end and lower end courses -- have raised their expectations.

"We have brought more rigor in to the curriculum and the teachers have become better at teaching it," he said.

Watson said the administration has also raised the bar with its research and curriculum development, working with faculty to adapt the curriculum where need be to prepare students to succeed on the tests. 

Much of the improvement, however, is due to students themselves, Watson said. As more Advanced Placement courses are being offered, students are gravitating to them.

"Every year they’re getting more focused on the harder courses. They want more," he said. "I compliment the supportive families and the kids in this district as one of the biggest parts of this composition."

SAT Participation and Average Scores (2008/09-2010/11):

*DFG = District Factor Group -- a grouping that comprises districts with residents who are similar in socioeconomic status.

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