Students at Elkhart High School are currently facing a great struggle: Their SAT scores are falling below the state’s level of achievement, which is already below national standards.
This is a problem that doesn’t only affect students, but the standards in Indiana that EHS—as a whole—fails to meet. In order to rectify this situation, EHS should take proper action to encourage students to participate in SAT preparation. What can Elkhart High School do to improve?
EHS administration should begin implementing SAT preparation into the regular curriculum–not just in preparation for this year’s test but as a core offering within the school’s curriculum. By offering SAT prep courses, Elkhart can ensure that all of its students have access to well-selected preparation materials. These materials can focus on test-taking strategies, time management, and subject-specific reviews, helping students build the skills they need to perform well on the exam. Junior Alice Rupard exclaims, “I want to do all that I possibly can to score well, whether that is practicing on Khan Academy or getting tutored!”
Providing resources and support for SAT prep is crucial. The school district can put together tutoring sessions for students, and study groups to provide a healthy environment. Practice tests can be of great importance regarding SAT preparation. Principal Mr. Cary Anderson notes, “Some of the best resources for SAT prep include: Official College Board SAT study materials, Khan Academy’s free SAT prep program, SAT prep books from Princeton Review, Barron’s, and Kaplan, online practice tests and question banks, and SAT prep courses and tutoring services (online or in-person).” Anderson explains that this targeted approach helps students improve their problem-solving skills, reinforce fundamental concepts, and develop strategies to tackle challenging questions.
The school district should embrace letting students know just how important SAT preparation is. Receiving good SAT scores can allow students to have great scholarship opportunities. Likewise, teachers can apply good learning techniques in their classrooms and then expect great outcomes.
Encouraging students in Indiana to participate in SAT prep will not only improve test scores, it will help students become more confident in their ability to perform well during the SAT.
