The average SAT scores for South Carolina's Class of 2009 in public schools fell six points from the previous year according to the state Department of Education.
The national average was down by two points.
The College Board reports high school seniors' average composite score for critical reading, math and writing was 1,445.
Several school districts in the Upstate had scores that that exceeded the national average of 1,493 for public schools. Those districts were Anderson 1 (1,516); Anderson 2 (1,514); Anderson 3 (1,620); Anderson 4 (1,512); Anderson 5 (1,503); Oconee (1,497); Pickens (1,525); Spartanburg 1 (1,504); Spartanburg 3 (1,501); Spartanburg 6 (1,511)
Among South Carolina's private school seniors, average SAT scores dropped 22 points from the previous year according to the Department of Education.
In contrast to their lower 2009 SAT scores, South Carolina public schools continued their across-the-board improvement on Advanced Placement tests.
"It's unclear why SAT scores declined and AP scores went up," said State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex in a written statement.
The College Board, which tracks 10-year SAT trends, said South Carolina's 22-point improvement for public school students since 1999 in reading and math (the writing test is only in its fourth year) remained the nation's best among states where more than half of the high school seniors take the SAT.
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