CER Back-to- School Alert 2000

        Since 1996, math scores have crept upwards while verbal scores have remained relatively constant.

        The trend since 1996 has been that the percentage of students scoring over 500 in math has increased relative to the number of students scoring below 500.

        Percentage scoring over 500:

1996: 52.9
1997: 54.6
1998: 54.8
1999: 54.3
2000: 55.3

        In 1999, the rising trend in math scores stalled and, in some cases, reversed.

• The total math score was 512 in 1998 and 511 in 1999.
• The total math score for whites was 528 in 1998 and 528 in 1999.
• The total math score for blacks was 426 in 1998 and 422 in 1999.

        In 2000, the upward creep of math scores resumed.

• The total math score was 512 in 1998 and 514 in 2000.
• The total math score for whites was 528 in 1998 and 530 in 2000.
• The total math score for blacks was 426 in 1998 and 426 in 2000.

        If one ignores the drop in math scores last year, this year’s scores seem consistent with the trends of the past five years. If, on the other hand, one compares this year’s scores with last years, it appears that a significant amount of improvement.

        Verbal Scores have remained relatively constant since 1996.

• The total verbal score has remained 505 since 1996.
• The total verbal score for blacks has remained 434 since 1996.
• The total verbal score for whites has increased slightly over the past two years.

1996: 526
1997: 526
1998: 526
1999: 527
2000: 528

---

VERBAL TRENDS

# # #

Return to: 

• A CLOSE LOOK AT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, SAT and NAEP scores reflect minimal progress, CER Back-to-School 2000 Series, August 30, 2000.

• THE SAT SCRAMBLE: All about the latest tinkering and tweaking...

# # #

The Center for Education Reform [CER] is a national, independent, non-profit advocacy organization providing support and guidance to individuals, community and civic groups, policymakers and others who are working to bring fundamental reforms to their schools. For additional information on education reform please call CER at (202) 822-9000.

CER Home Page CER News Alerts Back To School Series E-Mail CER