Carson High School students score high on college entrance exams

Carson High School students have almost consistently scored above both the state and national averages on college entrance exams since 1995.

"We try to make it a priority," said Carson High School Principal Glen Adair. "It's a benchmark of student and teacher success."

Last year, Carson High School students averaged 530 on the verbal portion of the SAT exam while the state averaged just below 510. The national average was about 508.

On the math portion, Carson High students scored an average of about 531. The state averaged about 515 and the nation was just below that with 513.

In 1997 and 1998, the school measured below the state and national averages in math but in 1999, the scores rose once again.

On the ACT exams last year, Carson High School students also scored above state and national averages. In English, Carson students averaged 22.5 while both the statewide and national averages were 20.5.

In math, the national average was about 20.5 and the state was 21. Carson High School students scored about 22.5. Carson students also dipped below the state average in the ACT exam in 1997 but improved the next year.

On the science portion, Carson High School students scored an average of 23 while both the state and national averages were about 21.

In reading, Carson High students scored a little above 23.5 while the state scored just above 21. 5 and the state just above 21.

The scores were reported at Tuesday's school board meeting.

Board President Norm Scoggin said he considered canceling the meeting because of the terrorist attacks earlier in the day. However, he decided to go ahead as scheduled.

"I'll be damned if I'm going to let this group of people (suspected terrorists) run our lives," he said at the meeting. "I hope we can all go on with our activities as normal."

He called for a moment of silence at the beginning of the meeting.