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Eagle Mill reunion
The annual Eagle Mill reunion will be held on Saturday, Sept. 13 at Hillbillys in Lowell at 5:30 p.m. For further information, call the Rev. Roger Wentz at (704)864-0964.
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Raiders earn high marks
By TARA MANJARRES
- Thu, Sep 4, 2008
GASTONIA—South Point High School SAT scores were the highest countywide and only one point below the national average, besting both the county and state scores in the process.
The average SAT score at SPHS is 1510, while the national average is 1511. East Gaston High School students earned an average of1403 on the exam.
SAT test scores were released last Monday. The SAT is one of the major college entrance exams and the one most often taken in N.C. The highest SAT score possible is a 2400 earned from 3 areas of testing—math, verbal and a writing section.
As a district overall, Gaston’s median score was 1445, which was an increase by 12 points from last year. Just two years ago, Gaston’s score was 1447 on the SAT, so they’ve almost caught back up to where they were in 2006.
Gaston Superintendent Reeves McGlohon said he was fortunate to announce the elevated SAT scores, which comes on the heels of other good test scores this year—Gaston has had mostly rising test scores this season.
“We are pleased that we increased the SAT by 12 points over last year,” said McGlohon. “We are glad to see the gap between us and the state average close some this year and the gap between the national average close as well. We are headed in the right direction.”
At SPHS, students averaged 502 in verbal, 519 in math, and 489 in writing on the SAT. Gary Ford is the new principal at SPHS, replacing longtime principal Sheri Little. He wasn’t surprised to hear the good report.
“They had a tremendous educator here and her leadership style and guidance played a huge role in that,” he said, adding that the scores are also a reflection of many other efforts blending together.
“You have the teachers who come to school ready to teach everyday. And many are familiar with the SAT and they are making sure students are ready just by teaching them what they are expected to learn. The parents in this community are supportive and our students need that parental support at home—that goes a long way. And then there are the students who come to school and do what they need to do, which is learn. This whole effort makes them prepared for the SAT.”
At a Monday press conference, McGlohon said one of the initiatives that has made a difference in recent higher test scores in Gaston is the high school reform initiative.
Ford explained one of the components of High School Reform is something called smaller learning communities. It’s where students are grouped together in small “academies,” based on their areas of study. One such academy is the MSE or the math, science, engineering group. The team meets at least once a month and gives students and teachers the opportunity to get to know each other better, talking about issues and ideas in their worlds.
Ford said these types of programs, as unglamorous as they seem, do make a difference.
“Anything that takes something large scale down to a smaller size, helps with management and that flows into the academic side.”
The percentage of students taking the SAT in North Carolina was 63 percent in 2008, according to projections of state participation rates. This rate places the state 15th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. At SPHS, 189 students took the test, or 64.9 percent. That score has increased from just two years ago when only 56.8 percent of students took the exam in 2006.
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