Math SAT scores rise

The high school Class of 2005 earned the highest-ever marks on the math portion of the SAT, a modest change that continues the steady 25-year trend of improvement on the country’s most popular standardized college entrance exam.

Last year’s seniors averaged 520 out of a possible 800 on the math portion, 2 points higher than the Class of 2004. Average scores on the verbal section were unchanged at 508, according to results released Tuesday by the College Board.

Spokane Public Schools students’ scores went down slightly from last year and fell just below the state average for the first time since the 1998-1999 school year. Verbal scores were 531, down from 538; math scores were 522, down from 534 last year.

In Idaho, students scored an average of 544 on the verbal portion, 4 points higher than last year’s state score; and an average of 542 on the math portion, up 3 points.