<p>I recently spent some time looking over a variety of High School Profiles from various states and was a little surprised to see a significant variation from one school to another in the number of students who take the SAT. I had expected to see a lower degree of participation in at-risk urban schools, and close to 100% participation in wealthy suburban districts. I did not, however, anticiapte such a wide difference in participation levels between schools with surface similarities. For example, at my D's "rural-suburban" school, 50 to 60% of the students take the SATs. At similar schools in some NE states the percentage range is often 90-100%. </p>
<p>My D explained to me that the guidance office at her school discourages kids from taking the SAT if they are planning to go to work or to community college after high school. My wife, who teaches at a different school district, says that the guidance department at her school does the same thing, in order to "save the kids some money." </p>
<p>So I'm curious. What percentage of students at your school take the SAT (or ACT)? You might also indicate which state you live in and what type of school you or your S/D attends (private/public, urban/suburban/rural).</p>
<p>Just about 0% for the SAT (small rural Midwestern public), but, since my state made the ACT mandatory as part of statewide achievement testing for juniors, just about 100% ACT participation. Prior to that law, I think ACT was closer to 60ish%. Our median score dropped the year every student began taking it, because before then, only kids who planned on going to college took it. Part of the rationale for the law was that kids who might not have gone to college now will be able to w/ their ACT score.</p>
<p>I dunno... 90-ish%? Plus some taking the ACT (maybe 25%)? Suburban NJ. I think something along the lines of 99% go to college after high school.</p>
<p>My local hs encourages all to take SAT I's but only those in honors classes to take SAT II's; in fact, discourages students in, for example, regular chemistry, from taking the chemistry SAT II.</p>
<p>I go to an inner-city public school. About 2/3rds go to 4 year college, 10-ish percent go to military/workforce, and the rest go to technical college.</p>
<p>I'd say about 60-70% take the ACT, maybe 15-20% take the SAT, with lots of overlap.</p>
<p>I think almost everybody takes the SATs in my school. Some choose not to send it, and a lot of people take the ACT's instead, but anybody that even considers going to college after school is forced to take them.</p>
<p>Almost everyone at my school takes the SAT. The ACT is called the "fallback test for idiots" at my school where people all take it because they hear its "so easy" (when in reality...its not :'( )</p>
<p>And the SAT is considered the easy one by the majority who take it. But everyone thinks in the ACT, so it is mostly athletes and the AP group that take the SAT. An odd mix. I think that the less common test is generally going to be called the 'easy' one. But that's just me.</p>
<p>most of the schools in our area feel the ACT is for the slower kids and the SAT is for the smart kids
you only take the ACt if you are dumb or really do bad on SAT
funny how I see many schools feel the same way</p>