ALBANY, N.Y. - New York State SAT and Advanced Placement results released today show more students than ever plan to go to college. More New York students took the SAT in 2007 – 160,875 – than did in 2006, when 157,591 students took the exam. 84 percent of New York’s overall secondary student population took the exam last year. This is the second highest percentage in the nation, behind only Maine, which pays for all students to take the exam.

The number of minority test takers also increased. The greatest increase in test takers was 20 percent among Hispanic students and more than 13 percent among Black students. The number of white and Asian test takers also increased.

At the same time, the scores on Critical Reading (formerly verbal) and Math declined in New York. Critical Reading dropped from 491 to 488. Math declined from 505 to 504. Results nationwide were flat: Critical Reading remained at 502 and Math remained at 515.

New York leads the nation in the percentage of high school students scoring 3 or better on Advance Placement exams, which indicates mastery. Hispanic students saw the greatest increase in the percentage scoring at least a 3, with a 7.5 percent rise over the previous year.

Overall AP participation rose by 4.7 percent this year. Participation increased especially among Black and Hispanic students. The percentage of Black students taking AP tests increased by more than eight percent, and the percentage of Hispanic students taking the tests increased by over nine percent.

Acting State Education Commissioner Kathy Ahearn said, "SAT and AP participation are up for all groups of New York State students. Significantly, in the past five years Hispanic student participation in the SAT is up 67% while Black students taking the test increased 37% in the same period. This growing expectation of a college education is a solid indicator that New York's emphasis on standards, rigorous curriculum, and quality teaching with a strong focus on high school graduation, is working to narrow the achievement gap."

The College Board announcement can be accessed at:

http://www.collegeboard.com/press/releases/197846.html