MHS posts historic mark in SAT 10

Marianas High School students made history by surpassing the 50 percentile mark in five out of eight subtest areas on the Stanford Achievement Test Series held last April.

MHS principal Craig Garrison yesterday said that this marks the first time in school history that students outperformed the national average on the SAT 10.

He said no other high school in the CNMI has ever been able to break the 50 percentile rank in the complete battery of tests.

Scores of the recent SAT 10 for MHS indicated that the five areas that exceeded the national average are mathematics which overall score is 53 percentile; science, 52 percentile; social science, 53 percentile; thinking skills, 52 percentile; and spelling, with 64 percentile.

Overall complete battery score for MHS is 51 percentile this school year 2011.

Based on Public School System’s records, MHS has the following scores in SAT 10 for five school years: 2007, 37 percentile rank; 2008, 48 percentile; 2009, 46 percentile; 2010, 49 percentile; and 2011, 51 percentile.

Garrison said one of the reasons for the high SAT 10 score is the “climate of trust” established among students.

“The primary reason is that we have some amazing students who are embracing every minute of their time on campus. Add to that some incredible teachers who know that extra effort leads to higher achievement,” he told Saipan Tribune.

The principal disclosed that one of the first things he shared with the staff after taking over the school in September 2010 was his concern about the test scores.

“I knew from the research that if we could start by raising the school climate we had a good chance and this was accomplished by removing many of the barriers both physical and psychological that the students faced every day. I can see a climate of trust in the students has developed and manifested itself into a greater level of self respect and a respect for their own education through their personal empowerment,” he said.

He added that the success was also because some teachers have gone above and beyond what the norm is by reaching out and connecting at different levels with the students, and showing that they care.

“Most teachers stepped up and really focused on the SAT 10 more than in the past and genuinely seemed to express a more caring attitude towards the students,” he disclosed, adding that those student and teachers who worked hard should be commended.

Saipan Tribune learned that shortly before the test dates, Garrison met with each grade level to share his vision of a great school climate and student achievement. “Instilling confidence in the student is half the battle when it comes to test taking,” according to the principal.

Garrison says he knows what it takes to create a great school, although he admits that he isn’t always as diplomatic as he should be in the process, he believes that time is not on the side of the children so he doesn’t want to waste it.

He says he’s confident that if everyone can set aside “petty and political issues” and continue to focus on the students then there is no limit to the success.

Garrison said that although the recent success on the SAT 10 is unmatched, the goal of having all the students reading at grade level by 2014 is still at arms length and that all stakeholders need to remain vigilant in achieving that goal.