EHS students rank third on SAT statewide

Famously rigorous and thorough, the SAT sets the standard by which all college-bound high school students are measured.

Elkin High School not only meets the standard, but sets a bar that only two other schools in North Carolina exceed; it has the third highest average SAT scores in the state.

“Our students study hard and strive for the highest level of education they can receive and it is reflected both in their SAT scores and our graduation numbers,” Dr. Randy Bledsoe, Elkin City Schools superintendent said.

And it is the teachers, for Bledsoe, that offer its driven students the means to achieve success.

“We’re very proud of the quality of teachers we have in Elkin,” he said.

And the focus on achievement continues each day.

“We continue to focus our energy on excellence and the curriculum to encourage each child to reach for the highest level of education they can receive in high school, and prepare for the next level in colleges and universities,” Bledsoe said.

Being third best in a state with 115 high schools means Elkin can compare its SAT average to other schools across the nation.

The students at Elkin High have the 45th best scores in the nation, said Bledsoe.

“We feel pretty good when you look at a student’s score compared to other student’s scores in other states,” he said.

Elkin’s average SAT score is 1073 for 2009, up from 1046 in 2008, Bledsoe said.

Only high schools in Watuga County and Hickory had better scores, with 1099 and 1076, respectively.

Overall student participation in taking the SAT factors into the ranking.

Bledsoe said the participation rate for EHS was 65 percent. The state’s average participation rate is 63 percent.

SAT scores are based on testing in mathematics and critical reading, and a newly-established writing section. The scores possible assessing math and critical reading are a combined 1,400. The new writing portion of the test adds 1,000, with a perfect score being 2,400.

EHS success at student participation and achievement on the SAT has translated into exceptional graduation rates.

“As a district, we ranked second in the state in 2008-2009 in graduation and in the 2007 - 2008 year, we ranked first.”

Part of the success at EHS is the number of student taking classes to prepare them for higher education.

“The percentage of students enrolled in college preparatory study in the high school is 90 percent,” Bledsoe said. “For the 2008 - 2009 school year, 30 students were in a course of study for college preparation, 40 students in career preparation, seven in college technology prep classes and eight in college ready courses of study.”

Overall student numbers in the district are Elkin High School - 379; Elkin Middle School - 185; Elkin Elementary School - 638.

The average class sizes in the district are: 19 in kindergarten; 19 in first grade; 19 in second grade; 19 in third grade; 21 in fourth grade; 21 in fifth grade; 21 in sixth grade; 21 in seventh grade; and 20 in eighth grade.

Additional information can be obtained on more statistics for Elkin as well as other school systems across the state by visiting the schools website at www.ncpublicschools.org and selecting ncreportcard.

The Elkin Tribune

by Karen Martin Staff Writer

March 19, 2010