Are High School Students Prepared for College?

More than 1.6 million high school students in the 2012 graduating class prepared for college by taking the SAT, according to the College Board, which administers the college entrance exam. This was a record number of test-takers, which is good news, since many well-paying jobs require a college degree.

However, record-low SAT scores and recent SAT cheating scandals may cause some to question if the country’s high school students are really prepared for a secondary education.

Dismal SAT Scores

According to a press release by the College Board, only 43% of high school seniors met the college and career readiness benchmark. The benchmark score is 1550, and it is a combination of critical reading, math and writing scores.

Students who score at least 1550 have a 65% chance of achieving at least a B average their freshman year of college. Students who score at least 1550 also have a significantly higher college retention rate.

Students from higher-income families scored higher overall and were more likely to reach the 1550 mark. Students who took core competencies were also more likely to score at least 1550. However, 57% of high school seniors did not meet this benchmark.

Of particular note, SAT reading scores–which indicate a student’s ability to read and interpret passages of text and answer questions regarding vocabulary and sentence structure–reached a 40-year low.

These dismal test scores may explain the recent rash of SAT/ACT cheating scandals, in which some high school students paid others to illegally take the college entrance exams in their place.

Lack of Science Majors

Low SAT scores are not the only reason to question the number of high school students prepared for college.

The National Academies, the country’s foremost science and technology advisory group, ranked the United States 27^th out of 29 wealthy countries in terms of college students who have degrees in math and science. In addition, over half of the country’s graduate students who study science are not Americans.

The National Academies stress the importance of improving early childhood education, developing a more rigorous science and math curriculum, and providing intensive teacher training in these areas.

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