New Jersey Beats National Average For SAT Test Scores
By David Madden
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- SAT results are in for the Class of 2013 in New Jersey, and they're looking good.
Scholastic Aptitude Test results indicate a slight average increase for the 83,000 high school students who took the college entrance exam this year.
"Our scores are up three points in reading, five points in math, and that's pretty good considering that throughout the nation they're stagnant in reading and down two points in math," says Michael Yaple, a spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Education.
New Jersey test takers scored an average of 499 in reading, 522 in math, and 500 in writing. The national averages are 496 in reading, 514 in math, and 488 in writing. The top score in each category is 800.
Yaple says New Jersey's numbers, reflecting both public and private schools in the state, show that kids are taking their college prep work seriously, and that's a good sign.
One down trend: fewer kids from New Jersey actually took the test than did in 2012.
