High school students in Lompoc are getting a hand when it comes to moving on to higher education.
Every year, high school students in the U.S. sharpen their pencils for the Scholarly Assessment Test (SAT). The scores are one of many factors colleges consider when admitting new students.
Not only can the test cause stress for the students but financial stress for parents, too.
Taking the SAT costs $60, a price that’s increased from $50 four years ago.
The Lompoc Unified School District says it will now cover the cost of the exam for all eligible junior students.
"We do live in a district with a lot of socio-economically challenged families," said Dr. John Karbula, Lompoc Unified School District. "Many of those families wouldn’t have otherwise afforded to take that test."
District officials say this will help those seeking a college education take the required first step. It also allows Lompoc to become an official SAT test site. Previously, students had to travel to other area high schools to take the test.
The district says they know taking the SAT can be pricey, especially with practice tests, classes, answer sheets and possible retests, it can cost well into the hundreds of dollars.
The district recently covered 600 Lompoc junior exams, which added up to $28,000. That money came from the district’s supplemental/concentration grant funding.
To save costs, the Scholastic Assessment Team encourages students to register early and take the test early to ensure they get their scores on time.
