At the same time SAT scores are dropping across the state and across the country, scores are rising in Howard County.
Results released this week show that students in Howard are out-performing their peers at higher levels, and that more and more county students are taking the test.
The average SAT score for the class of 2011 in Howard County was 1645; in Maryland, that average was 1492, and across the country, the average was 1500.
Both the state- and nation-wide averages declined by six points from the previous year. In contrast, Howard scores went up six points from 2010, with students in each of the county's 12 high schools out-performing their out-of-county peers.
Nearly 80 percent of the graduating class of 2011 — 3,129 students — took the SATs, which school officials said is the most students ever.
The SAT is broken down into three sub-tests: critical reading, mathematics and writing, each with a possible score of 800. In each of those sub-tests, Howard students again out-performed students on the state and national level, with average scores of 542, 561 and 542 in reading, math and writing, respectively.
Those scores are the highest ever achieved by county students, said Rebecca Amani-Dove, director of student assessment and program evaluation.
"We have a curriculum focused on college- and career-readiness," Amani-Dove said. "Our students are well-prepared for success after high school when they leave our doors, and the SAT scores are reflections of that preparedness."
Typically, Amani-Dove said, Howard students' scores are well above the national average, even before the dip in national scores.
"Nationally, there has been a push for more and more students to take the SAT, and districts and states throughout the country are focusing on readiness, and more students are participating," she said. "That's something very promising and good for our country, but you're going to see some fluctuations in the scores (because of that)."
Centennial High School students scored the highest in the county in reading, with an average score of 583, and math, with an average of 613.
Students at River Hill had the highest writing scores, with an average score of 595, and the highest composite score, which was 1783.
While Mt. Hebron High School had the highest number of students taking the SAT, with 319, River Hill High School had the highest percentage of students taking the test, with 90 percent.
In a release from the school system, Superintendent Sydney Cousin expressed pride in the students and said the scores are another confirmation that efforts to accelerate student achievement are working.
"We are making great progress on so many fronts," Cousin said. "We're on our way to eliminating achievement gaps and have the curriculum and programs in place to ensure that all our graduates are college- and career-ready."