by Bridget Cook ’14

Anyone who has or plans to take the SAT in the upcoming months is familiar with the extensive and detailed procedure. By the time registration draws to a close, students sigh with relief that the long sign-up process is over. That is, until they reach the page with the available test sites and discover that their own school isn’t on the list. Some local SAT testing sites are Gaithersburg, Walter Johnson and Good Counsel, but Sherwood is not included among these options.

In order for a school to become an SAT testing site, it must apply through the College Board. If and when accepted, the proctors and test coordinators receive a small payment for giving their time; unfortunately, this factor does not attract many. A shortage of testing staff is a significant reason why Sherwood is not a site. “If you don’t have people willing to give up their Saturday to come in and [serve as proctors], it becomes hard to offer the SAT,” said Guidance Counselor Jamii Avery.

For many students, having to commute to their testing center is an annoyance. The centers within the county can fill quickly, forcing some students to travel long distances for the exam. Junior Dean Emerson has taken the exam twice, his furthest commute time being almost an hour. “It’s not a huge deal that I had to take it somewhere else, but I would prefer more local options to take it so I don’t have to drive all the way out to Frederick,” said Emerson. “Driving out there meant having to wake up 30 to 45 minutes earlier, so that was kind of an inconvenience sleep-wise.”

Along with the aggravation of an early wake-up and longer drive, test anxiety can be an obstacle for some when taking the SAT at an unfamiliar location. “I think students benefit when they take their SAT at their home school. They are more familiar with the facility and with test examiners,” said Assistant Principal Kathlyn Carroll, who oversees the school’s SAT/ACT initiatives. Avery agrees it may alleviate stress for students to test at their own school.

Sherwood has not served as a testing center in more than five years, but could potentially hold future SATs. The topic was discussed at a recent School Improvement Plan meeting in which students participated. “Administration is interested and open to revisiting the topic,” said Carroll.