By Logan Hall ’14
THE ROUNDUP

This year’s national SAT scores have fallen to the lowest they have been at since 1972, according to the College Board.

“I believe that our nation’s SAT reading scores are so low because books are not an important part of curriculum for most public schools,” said Dylan Dinan ’14.

Dinan said that reading more is a solution to the problem.

“Students would have a higher comprehension level and a wider vocabulary if they read more,” Dinan said.

Long time English teacher Mr. Lane McShane ’84 said he believes that multimedia is to blame for this issue.

“In my opinion, most students are so bombarded with multimedia that actual reading has been replaced by scanning and looking for answers, with very little focus on fundamental grammar,” Mr. McShane said.

Mr. McShane also said that Brophy students, in general, are typically far more prepared than others for these tests.

College Board President Gaston Caperton responded to this information in a press release saying that this should be a call to action to expand access to rigor for more students.

However, this recent drop in scores was not the first time this has happened.

SAT reading scores have been on a downward slope for quite a few years now. According to NPR, SAT reading scores were already in bad shape in 2011.

According to ACT, only 25 percent of students that take the ACT are “college ready”.

“Our nation’s future depends on the strength of our education system. When less than half of kids who want to go to college are prepared to do so, that system is failing,” Caperton said.

Although Arizona’s SAT scores were above average compared to the rest of the country, the state has seen a decrease in scores for a third straight year.

Arizona students scored an average 516 on reading, down from 519 the year before, and above the national average of 502 according to SAT and The Arizona Republic.