Leander ISD Superintendent Dan Troxell, Ph.D., announced that last year 67 percent of the 2016 graduates took the SAT with the average total score increasing by 15 points more than the prior year.

The SAT test consists of Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing sections. Each section is scored on a scale of 200 – 800 points. • Critical Reading: LISD – 540 (compared to 536 in 2015); State – 466; National – 494 • Mathematics: LISD – 554 (compared to 550 in 2015); State – 478; National – 508 • Writing: LISD – 516 (compared to 509 in 2015); State – 449; National – 482

“Leander ISD is very proud of the increasing number of students taking the SAT and the excellent results they are accumulating on this challenging college entrance exam,” Troxell said. “The most recent SAT scores are a direct indication that LISD’s commitment to college-readiness, including early and frequent exposure to these college entrance exams, is directly contributing to student success.”

Troxell said that all LISD eighth- and ninth-grade students will take the PSAT 8/9, while all 10th- and 11th-grade students will take the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholar Qualifying Test), on Wednesday, Oct. 19.

These tests will be administered at no cost to LISD students. The Viper Nation Education Foundation is partially funding the PSAT 8/9 administration for eighth-grade students, while LISD is funding the remaining balance. The cost for PSAT administrations for all high school students is covered by the district.

The PSAT 8/9 is a College Board assessment within the SAT Suite of Assessments, which includes the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT. PSAT 8/9 is a test that provides practice for, and exposure to, college entrance exams. The PSAT 8/9 and the PSAT/NMSQT are junior level assessments. PSAT 8/9 establishes a baseline for college and career readiness as students enter high school. Since PSAT 8/9 is vertically aligned with PSAT/NMSQT, students may preview the content and test structure using the PSAT Prep materials.

All students who take the PSAT/NMSQT receive personalized online SAT practice through Khan Academy based on their test performance. College Board’s partnership with Khan Academy offers: personalized instant feedback, official full-length SAT practice tests, and thousands of practice questions, video lessons and hints. Additional information regarding the SAT and free prep resources are available on district’s college- and career-readiness webpage. Students are encouraged to use this information in preparing for an SAT and/or ACT in spring of their junior year.