By By Sherry Digmon
Advance Staff Writer
Second-graders at two local schools made an excellent showing on the Stanford Achievement Test.
Rachel Patterson Elementary School Principal Buck Powell said 79 percent of his second-graders scored in the clear status, which is the highest ranking on the test.
Schools are not under accountability for second grade students' SAT scores. However, their scores do count in the school system's standing beginning in the third grade.
Huxford Elementary School second graders scored above the national average in all 13 test areas. The scores were an improvement over last year's scores.
Huxford students scored lowest, though still slightly above the national average, in environment which includes earth and space science, physical science, life science, history, geography, civics and government and economics.
Administering the test to second-graders provides an additional challenge because they are taught the material but also have to be taught how to take the test, Powell said.
Rachel Patterson students scored slightly below the national average in only one area – listening, which includes vocabulary and comprehension. And that, Powell said, is a unique challenge in itself with second graders.