Newly released SAT scores for last year’s high school graduates show that students from the Pioneer Charter School of Science (PCSS) exhibited a high level of college and career readiness and significantly outperformed students from local district schools.
PCSS is also the only school from the area with a combined SAT score over 1550, which The College Board, administrator of the test, sets as an indicator of whether graduating seniors are ready for college-level work. On average, PCSS scored 82 points higher than other local districts in critical reading, 113 points higher in math, and 87 points higher in writing.
Out of 343 Massachusetts high schools with SAT scores, PCSS had the 85th highest combined score.
“The SAT provides a good barometer of whether students are going to succeed in college and careers, and these scores are very encouraging,” said Barish Icin, Executive Director of PCSS. “The results reinforce our focus and dedication to producing college ready and career ready young people by the time they leave our school.”
The SAT is broken into three parts – critical reading, math and writing – with a maximum score of 800 on each test. PCSS students scored 512 in critical reading, 565 in math and 508 in writing.
About Pioneer Charter School of Science
PCSS offers a rigorous academic curriculum that emphasizes math, science, and analytical thinking skills balanced by a strong foundation in the humanities. The school offers extended days/hours and career-oriented college preparation. Students must pass five math and five science classes in order to graduate, more than state standards, and students must also complete 40 hours of community service. The school has a 200-day school calendar, extended days (7:30 a.m. – 3.35 p.m.), tutoring until 4:30 p.m. and “voluntary” Saturday classes for students who need extra help.
On August 16, 2013, PCSS opened a new sister school, PCSS II, which is based on PCSS’s successful math and science-focused model, and will eventually serve 360 students in Grades 7-12 from Saugus, Salem, Peabody, Danvers, and Lynn. PCSS II enrolled 180 students in Grades 7, 8 and 9 this fall, and will add new grades each year until it is fully enrolled in 2016. The new school will be located in downtown Saugus, but during the construction phase, the school is operating out of the old Everett High School. The school is aiming to have the modular units at the Saugus location set up in the next couple of months.