By Michael Natelli ‘14

Nearly eighty-three percent of Sherwood seniors took the SAT in 2012/2013, and once again, school averages surpassed state and national averages. Just 44 percent of seniors nationwide took the SAT. Maryland seniors averaged a 1483, while the national average was a 1498.

Sherwood seniors topped both those numbers, averaging a 1611 superscore (37 points below the county average). The mean score is a 19-point improvement from 2011; however it was an 11-point decrease from 2012.

As is the case in most schools, Sherwood still deals with an achievement gap. While White and Asian Sherwood seniors averaged a 1685 and 1665, respectively, Hispanic and African American students averaged a 1482 and 1408. However, the participation rate of both minorities still exceeded the national average; 44 percent of the country’s seniors took the SAT last year, while 74.3 percent of black Sherwood students took the test. 65.5 percent of Hispanic Sherwood seniors took it, and Sherwood was one of just four schools in the county that saw an increase in SAT participation and performance from African American seniors.