Two years ago, SAT verbal scores for South Lakes High School seniors ranked fourth among all 24 public high schools in Fairfax County. With an average score of 556, South Lakes equaled McLean High School's score and trailed only perennial high achievers Thomas Jefferson, Langley and Madison high schools.
The class of 2000 scored similarly on the math portion of the standardized test, as well. South Lakes ranked eighth, ahead of neighboring rival Herndon High by eight points.
This year, however, the scores for the class of 2002 — revealed last month by Fairfax County Public Schools — showed a noticeable drop from the scores of two years ago.
South Lakes' math scores had dropped nine points in two years, and this year the Reston high school ranks No. 15 in the county. Its eight-point advantage over Herndon High is gone.
The verbal scores were even more eye-opening. From its high water mark of 556 in 2000, average scores plummeted by 22 points. Ranked fourth in the county in 2000, South Lakes came in at No. 10 this year.
All of this news might be enough to make a principal a little worried. Not Rely Rodriguez. "Let's look at the big picture before we are alarmed," she said.
The South Lakes principal, now in her fifth year, said she was not troubled by what she characterized as "only a slight downward trend."
<b>ACTUALLY, THERE IS</b> a good reason for the drops in scores, Rodriguez said. The class of 2000 was just too smart, she said.
In 1998 and 1999, South Lakes seniors scored a respectable, if not spectacular 540 on the verbal section. The following year, the class of 2000 improved on that number by 16 points. The average score of 556 was the highest score for any South Lakes graduating class in the previous 10 years, according to College Board data. "I prefer five-year studies to three-year studies, I can see a better change," she said.
This year's verbal scores are 22 points less than 2000, but only six points fewer than the averages in 1998 and 1999.
The math scores tell a similar story. South Lakes seniors scored an average of 540 and 541 in 1998 and 1999. The class of 2000 scored a 547. This year's score was down to 538, only two points off its scores from five years ago.
While Rodriguez remains upbeat, she says she and her teachers are constantly trying to find ways to improve test scores. The principal is exploring the idea of starting a SAT test prep class after school. First she must find funding sources to staff such a class. South Lakes currently offers one test-prep class as an elective during the school day. "Parents can rest assured, we are not sitting here looking and saying this will pass away," she said. "We are looking for ways to work on it.
<b>"YOU CAN LOOK</b> at the trends all you want, but you can also look at where we are now," Rodriguez said. "If you look at the racial ethnic diversity, plus the socio-economic diversity here, I can tell you that that is a good score. If you look at Herndon, they don't have nearly as many free and reduced lunches as there are at South Lakes."
Without naming schools directly, Rodriguez said the scores of schools who scored above South Lakes are not surprising. "Just look at the ethnic and social class diversity of those schools," she said. "Reston is becoming more diverse and Reston has a big subsidized housing area."
Despite the increased number of students who come from subsidized housing, Rodriguez said her school's numbers compare quite favorably with schools, like Mt. Vernon and West Potomac, who also draw significant numbers of the student body from subsidized housing. "All I am asking is: Let's look at everything."
Rodriguez made it clear that she wouldn't trade her school's diversity for anything, including higher scores. Currently, South Lakes' population is about 17 percent African American and 5 percent Hispanic. "I think our school is a reflection of the United States of America."
<b>"SURE, THE YEAR 2000</b> was an exceptionally smart class, but smart is not the only thing you are looking for in a kid. You need somebody who can speak and who has good interpersonal relationships. It's only one measure," she said, in an interview in her office last week. "Most CEOs who succeed are the ones with good interpersonal skills. People need to deal with people, speak with people, watch football with people intelligently. I mean, the nerds are good, but still there is a place for everyone in the world. The fact is the 2001 [class] was an equally wonderful class. To me achievement means a lot of stuff, including achievement in social skills and understanding of the world."
Rodriguez said she has been in education for a long time and she knew not to make too much out of one batch of scores. "I really looked to see if this was really bad news," she said. "After I looked at this, I was not that disappointed. SAT scores are only one of the many, many pieces of the puzzle."
Rodriguez acknowledged that there are probably some lower-performing students at South Lakes who might not benefit from taking the test. But, Rodriguez said she would never try to talk a student out of taking it, even if it meant the school's averages might improve.
"We offer the test to anybody that wants to take the test," Rodriguez said. "We don't ever counsel them out. Why not give the kids an opportunity to assess themselves? My conscience would bother me if I did that because I want my kids to have every opportunity the school system has to offer, regardless of the kids' color or the money in their pockets."