We'uns not goin tuh Collug

Gloucester officials were pleased that more students took the SAT tests this year, and the scores increased slightly. (About 35% of the senior class took the tests this year compared to 30% last year.)

Average scores rose this year by 15 points in the math section to 503; 12 points in the verbal section to 516; and six points in the writing section to 487, Belvin said.

The average U.S. student's scores were 515 in math, 502 in verbal and 494 in writing. The average Virginia student's scores were 511 in math, 511 in verbal and 498 in writing.

So, last year the math score was 488, the verbal 504, and the writing 481. Combined math/verbal scores were 992 last year, and are 1019 this year.

At William and Mary the range of SAT scores that would put you in the middle 50% of incoming freshmen is 1270 to 1430. So, with a score of 1019 you are well down in the bottom 25%.

At the University of Virginia the average composite score is 1325.

At Christopher Newport University the average is lower; around 1152 two years ago.

So what is presumably our top 35% of students gets scores that on average put them in the bottom 20% of kids going to college at the better local schools. They might fare better at CNU.

That's not to say some of the kids didn't get great scores, but then what does that say about the others?

My school? Mines? The middle 50% currently ranges from 1170 to 1340. That's kind of embarrassing.