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Wednesday, November 12, 2014

ACT or SAT?

Ask almost anyone and they will tell you that completing college applications can be complicated and emotional for a variety of reasons.  Students often report that the most anxiety-inducing portion of the process involves the ACT and SAT exams.  Both are nationally administered, standardized tests that help colleges evaluate students for admission.  Both tests have been rites of passage for decades, but the landscape has changed and students can now make a choice about which test to take.
 
 
Until recently, the college entrance test you took was based on your zip code.  Students on the east and west coasts typically took the SAT and students in the middle of the country usually took the ACT.  For most, there wasn't much thought that went into the decision, you simply took the test you were told to take by the colleges in your geographic area.  Times have changed dramatically and almost every college now accepts either test.  In fact, colleges do not express a preference for one test over the other.
 
As illustrated in the chart below, more and more TUHSD students take the ACT every year and they are experiencing a great deal of success.

   Grad     English    Math                                                         Total
   Year       Score     Score    Reading   Science   Composite   Tested
 
   2010       26.3       26.2        26.1          24.6          25.9           375   
 
   2014       26.8       26.2        26.8          25.3          26.4           458   
 
ACT scores range from 1 to 36.  The national average composite score is 21.  It is also interesting to note that the California state average composite score was 22.2 in 2010 and 22.3 in 2014.  Clearly, TUHSD students are performing far above state average and, of even more significance; our students' performance is improving at a rate that far exceeds the state.
 
What is the difference between the two tests?
There are many factors that distinguish the two tests from each other, but briefly, the ACT is an achievement test that measures the content taught in school.  Success on the ACT is dependent on mastery of curriculum and, therefore, is closely tied to a student's experience in their school.  The SAT is more of an aptitude test and it measures reasoning and verbal abilities.
 
The ACT has five sections:  English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and an optional Writing Test.  The SAT has three sections:  Critical Reading, Mathematics, and a required Writing Test.
 
How are the questions different on the ACT and SAT?
According to the Princeton Review website, the ACT questions tend to be more straightforward and easier to understand on a first read.  The SAT may require more time to think about a question prior to the formulation of a response.  Furthermore, SAT penalizes for wrong answers, so guessing is discouraged.  The ACT is scored based on the number of correct answers with no penalty for guessing.
 
Is there a difference in the length of the tests?
The ACT is three hours and 25 minutes including the optional Writing Test.  The SAT is three hours and 45 minutes.
 
How do students choose the best test?
The place to get great advice is from your student's TUHSD counselor!  This blog post barely scratches the surface of the complexities of both tests.  Our counselors know our students on an individual basis as well as the ins and outs of both tests.  They can help a student assess their strengths and weaknesses and make informed decisions about the entire college application process.  Another great place to get advice is from the College and Career Counselors.  They have access to a variety of resources such as practice tests, information about specific colleges and universities, as well as the sign up process to take tests.
 
More resources: 


 






Monday, November 3, 2014

Successful Completion of Refunding of 2006 General Obligation Bonds

Tamalpais Union High School District is pleased to report the successful completion of the refunding of its 2006 series of General Obligation Bonds.  Refunding of bonds is similar to refinancing a mortgage.  New bonds are sold, the old debt is paid off, and taxpayers benefit from the savings.  Historically low interest rates and the ability to enter the market quickly enabled the district to lock in $8.5 million of debt service savings.
 
This refunding represents the third time the District has been able to reduce debt service costs paid by our taxpayers.  The combined savings from each of our three refundings total about $19.9 million over the period from 2011 through 2031.  The 2014 refunding was extremely successful and represents about 43% of the overall savings from the three refundings.
 
As recently reported to our community, Standard & Poor's affirmed the District's rating of 'AAA' on all outstanding General Obligation Bonds as well as on the new Refunding Bonds.  Standard & Poor's cited the District's strong tax base, conservative approach to budgeting, strong reserve levels and strong management as key positive factors leading to the highest possible rating.
 
The 2006 bonds were originally approved by a two-thirds vote of the community in order to modernize and upgrade all five high schools.  Our students and community now benefit from world class learning environments at all five high schools.