SAT Scores Are In....

The SAT Reasoning Test. Even if you haven't taken it, you've certainly heard of it.

The grueling multi-hour assessment, with its strange, partially wordless title (the letters "SAT" don't stand for anything,) its controversial essay section, and its seemly infinite rows of answer bubbles, is a primary factor in the admissions process at many colleges and universities. Most of EMHS's students will have taken the test by the time they graduate. Some seniors have taken it already; for others, the SAT yet looms in the future, ominous, inevitable, and potentially disastrous in perception, sort of like Norse Mythology's Battle of Ragnarok, except much less interesting.

The good news is that, despite the SAT's intimidating nature, EMHS students tend to do surprisingly well on it. Last year, Eastern Mennonite students averaged 565 on the math section, 562 on the reading section, and 554 on the writing section, compared with national averages of 515, 502, and 494, respectively. The scores are made more impressive by the fact that around eighty five percent of EMHS's seniors took the test, while, according to Guidance Counselor Tina Glanzer, only forty to sixty percent of seniors take the test in many public schools. Because the students most likely to do well on the test are those most likely to take it, having a higher percentage of students take the test tends to translate to lower average scores.

Mrs. Glanzer believes that a number of factors are responsible for EMHS's impressive showing. Parents who send their children to EMHS generally have the desire and financial ability to give their kids a top-quality education, and EMHS, in her opinion, is equipped to help give students such an education. "I think that learning is valued by the parents here," she said, "and, of course, we value it." She also believes the the school's "faith aspect," with its accompanying work ethic, helps the students achieve academic success.

Some have criticized the heavy importance placed on the SAT by the American educational system. Mrs. Glanzer sympathizes somewhat, saying that the SAT is "overvalued," but that, though imperfect, the SAT and the similar ACT are vital tools in evaluating college bound students. All the same, she stresses that regardless of a student's future educational plans, developing solid work habits is as or more important than performing well on any single test.

- Dustin Crummett

Comments

[Dustin Crummett]

I believe that should read "potentially disastrous," for what it's worth.

[JohnLL]

It's worth quite a bit! Ah, the wonders of editing.... Master Editor

[Freeman Bendfeldt]

By giver did you mean give in the second to last paragraph? Anyways, this is an excellent article, as is any article that mentions Ragnarok.

[JohnLL]

Good grief. SOMEONE isn't editing as well as they should... oops. Master Editor