High school students in the Bellingham School District scored competitively in the state and nation on the 2008 SAT and ACT exams, according to results released recently. SAT and ACT scores for high schools in the district are higher than the national average.

As the district prepares students for future education and careers, more students are choosing to take college entrance exams in recent years.

"With the phasing in of new graduation requirements, more students in the Bellingham Public Schools are taking increased numbers of courses needed for eligibility and preparation for postsecondary education and careers. We are proud of our students' performance on these assessments. We will continue to enhance rigorous learning options for students as they progress through our high schools and prepare for the future," says Superintendent Kenneth Vedra.

SAT Scores for 2008
School	2008 Critical Reading (2007)	2008 Writing(2007)	2008 Math (2007)	2008 # of Test Takers (2007)
Bellingham	568 (560)	553 (529)	575 (559)	138 (135)
Sehome	575 (571)	552 (549)	578 (592)	156 (140)
Squalicum	503 (534)	496 (512)	545 (556)	102 (130)
State	526 (526)	509 (510)	533 (531)	36,306 (34,636)
National	502 (502)	494 (494)	515 (515)	1,518,859 (1.5 million)

Overall mean scores are represented above from The College Board's 2008 College-Bound Seniors report.

District students who chose to take the ACT received scores higher than state and national averages. Local test takers increased by 44 students for the 2008 ACT test, according to the ACT College Readiness Letter.

The ACT and the SAT are two tests used by colleges to help determine if students are ready for college academics. Students are not required to take both.

ACT Scores for 2008
ACT Test Takers	2008 English (2007)	2008 Math (2007)	2008 Reading (2007)	2008 Science (2007)	2008 Composite (2007)	2008 # of Test Takers (2007)
Bellingham School District	24.5 (24.4)	25.3 (25.4)	25.9 (25.5)	23.7 (24.1)	25.0 (25.0)	117 (73)
State	22.7 (22.7)	23.2 (23.0)	23.7 (23.7)	22.4 (22.6)	23.1 (23.1)	11,951 (10,435)
National	20.6 (20.7)	21.0 (21.0)	21.4 (21.5)	20.8 (21.0)	21.1 (21.2)	1,421,941 (1,300,599)

Average scores are represented above from ACT.

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