text: Jasper improves ACT, SAT scores - News - Bluffton Today - Bluffton, SC
  Jasper improves ACT, SAT scores
  Improved scores on two college-based exams are encouraging Jasper County School District leaders that efforts to boost reading skills are paying off.
  Seniors gained 38 points over 2014 SAT county scores, with the greatest improvement coming in critical reading.
  For 2015, county seniors averaged 414 on critical reading, 396 on math and 382 on the writing portion of the SAT for a three-part composite of 1192. However, seniors are still lagging behind the national public-student SAT average of 1462.
  For 2015, 24 percent of the 160 seniors took the SAT.
  On the ACT, seniors averaged 15.8, up 1.3 points from 2014's composite of 14.5. The ACT tests knowledge in multiple fields and is scored on a 36-point scale.
  "We are proud to see our students improving on these important college-level tests, and it's encouraging to see reading scores rise over last year," Washington said."At the same time, we understand that one year doesn't make a trend, but it is another positive step. We have a long ways to go, but moving forward each year is important."
  About one-fourth of Ridgeland-Hardeeville seniors took the SAT in 2015. The rate of SAT participation varies widely among South Carolina's high schools, with much of the variation based on which colleges students predominantly apply to, or which test the school's leadership and counselors feel best suits the students.
  "Reading is such a fundamental skill that if a student cannot read well, they most likely aren't going to succeed in their other school work," Jasper County School District Superintendent Vashti Washington said. "Looking at our students' SAT and ACT scores for this year shows some improvement."
  Washington acknowledged the district still lags behind state and national averages, but notes that progress is being made among students.
  "We will always take one step forward over one step backward, and these nationally-based exams indicate our students are moving forward," Washington said. "Our goal, everyone's goal in this county, should be to work to ensure we keep marching forward toward our goals."