Although more minority students took SAT tests this year, worrying gaps remain between male and female students, and between students of different ethnic groups and family incomes — and some of those gaps widened this year, said Robert A. Schaeffer, public-education director of the National Center for Fair and Open Testing.

The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that black students had the lowest average combined mathematics and critical-reading score, 855, while white students had an average combined score of 1,064.

Among students who reported that their family income was more than $200,000, there was a 26-point increase in the average combined score for all three sections over last year, from 1,676 to 1,702. About a third of test-takers did not report their family income. Still, College Board officials say the gaps reflect differences in students’ academic preparation. “I think what you’re really seeing is the gaps are increasing for students who have better preparation,” said Wayne Camera, vice president of research and development at the College Board. Forty percent of the test-takers were members of minority groups, compared with 38 percent last year.

Filed under: K-12 Education News