LH reports record high test scores
The Laurel Highlands School District recently received good news – in a variety of ways. Laurel Highlands defied a national trend this year reflecting a sharp drop in high school students’ SAT scores by recording historically high scores in both reading and math – the highest for as long as SATs have been administered in the district.
“That’s the highest we ever had,” said Dr. Gary Brain, director of curriculum. “We’re proud of these scores.”
This year’s state and national scores both dropped, marking the sharpest decline nationally in 31 years. For the first time, Laurel Highlands’ scores topped the state average in reading and math.
The Laurel Highlands High School Class of 2006 recorded 498 in verbal and 509 in math for a total score of 1007, up 28 total points from last year, and 25 points above the district average.
The state’s average declined from 501 to 493 in critical reading and from 503 to 500 in math.
Brain attributes the feat to students taking a practice SAT exam in grades 9, 10 and 11. Plus, said Brain, the Laurel Highlands Academic Foundation pays for a 24-hour preparatory course for all high school students.
In other good news, Laurel Highlands is the only school district in Fayette County to be awarded a state college and career counseling grant for $116,793, which will add another guidance counselor, who will split time between middle and the high schools’ students.
The new counselor will work specifically with students to prepare them for the transition from grade 8 to grade 9.
The district also recently got word that it will receive a dual enrollment grant for $77,000, and the state Project 720 was renewed for the second year, providing the district with $95,000.
The 720 grant will pay the salary of a guidance counselor position implemented last year, while dual enrollment money goes toward the continuation of the program by the same name that allows high school students to take college credit while still in school.
Laurel Highlands High School students took 121 classes last year through California University of Pennsylvania, Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, and the University of Pittsburgh.