College Admission Test Participation Rates Continue to Rise

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Randy I. Dorn


College Admission Test Participation Rates Continue to Rise

Washington also sees increase in diversity of test-taking students

OLYMPIA — September 4, 2015 — More Washington students than ever are enrolling in college-level courses and taking college entrance exams, according to results recently released by the College Board and ACT. Almost every reported racial and ethnic group saw increased SAT, AP, PSAT and ACT test-taking rates in 2015.

“I’m proud of our students,” said State Superintendent Randy Dorn. “Our participation rates are up, so that means more students are thinking about life after high school. At the same time, we continue to perform above the national average.”

The following participation rates were provided to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction by the College Board (SAT, AP and PSAT) and ACT:

CLASS OF 2015 SAT PARTICIPATION IN WA (public schools)

Racial/Ethnic Group

% Change From Last Year

% of Total

American Indian

+9.2

1.6

Asian

+11.7

14.4

Black

+26.3

6.2

Mexican American

+16.4

8.0

Puerto Rican

+7.3

0.3

Other Hispanic

+27.6

4.2

White

+3.7

57.1

Other

+5.7

3.6

No Response

+32.8

4.6

 

CLASS OF 2015 AP PARTICIPATION IN WA (public schools)

Racial/Ethnic Group

% Change From Last Year

% of Total

American Indian

-7.6

1.0

Asian

+4.2

17.9

Black

+6.6

3.6

Mexican American

+8.4

6.0

Puerto Rican

+16.2

0.3

Other Hispanic

+2.9

2.8

White

+3.6

59.9

Other

-7.7

3.7

No Response

+145.7

4.8

 

CLASS OF 2016 PSAT PARTICIPATION IN WA (public schools)

Racial/Ethnic Group

% Change From Last Year

% of Total

American Indian

+1.7

1.6

Asian

-3.7

13.8

Black

+2.1

5.8

Mexican American

+10.2

9.2

Puerto Rican

+30.3

0.3

Other Hispanic

+6.8

3.7

White

-1.7

55.5

Other

+4.4

4.1

No Response

-3.8

6.1

 

CLASS OF 2015 ACT PARTICIPATION IN WA (all schools)

Racial/Ethnic Group

# Change From Last Year

% of Total

Black/African American

+157

5

American Indian/Alaska Native

+25

1

White

+553

52

Hispanic/ Latino

+663

15

Asian

+360

11

Native Hawaiian/ Other Pacific Islander

+70

1

Two or More Races

+186

7

Prefer Not to Respond/No Respond

+263

7

College entrance exams and some AP exams are legislatively approved alternatives to Washington’s high school exit exams. Students can apply to use qualifying scores to meet the assessment requirement for graduation, if they have first attempted to meet standard on a state exam. Students who transfer into Washington public schools in 11th or 12th grade from out of state or an in-state non-public school setting can apply for a “transfer student waiver” to use one of the alternatives without taking a state exam first.

More information


Contact

Nathan Olson
OSPI Communications Manager
360-725-6015

Kristen Jaudon
OSPI Communications Specialist
360-725-6032

About OSPI

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is the primary agency charged with overseeing K–12 education in Washington state. Led by State Superintendent Randy Dorn, OSPI works with the state's 295 school districts and nine educational service districts to administer basic education programs and implement education reform on behalf of more than one million public school students.

OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.

Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Equity and Civil Rights Director at 360-725-6162 or P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200.