Columbus, Ohio – Ohio public school students have again outperformed the nation on the SAT college entrance and placement exam. The average verbal score of Ohio students was 537 compared to the national average of 498, 550 in math compared to the national average of 511, and 518 in writing compared to the national average of 488.

"The College Board has released data from 2010 for the ACT, Advanced Placement exams, and now the SAT. In each case, Ohio students performed well above the average for the nation," said Deborah Delisle, superintendent of public instruction. "Ohio students and teachers deserve to be commended for their commitment to education and high achievement. In order to remain competitive in today's global economy, we must continue this trend and support our students as they engage in challenging course work."

The number of public school students taking the SAT declined this year, with 17,353 public school students participating; however, both ACT and Advanced Placement exams were taken in record numbers.

"The scores from the SAT, ACT and AP exams confirm that Ohio schools prepare our students for success after graduation. These results also tell us that engaging in a rigorous curriculum while in high school has a significant impact on student performance," Delisle added. "This year's freshman class will be the first required to meet the graduation requirements of the Ohio Core curriculum, established in Senate Bill 311, which increases the rigor of coursework necessary to earn a high school diploma. By challenging our students and helping them meet these higher expectations, we will prepare our students for a competitive global economy."

Students engaging in a Core curriculum, consisting of four or more years of English, three or more years of math, three or more years of natural sciences, and three or more years of social sciences and history scored 43 point higher in reading, 44 points higher in mathematics and 45 points higher in writing than their peers that did not take at least a Core curriculum. National data show the same trend.

In June 2010, the State Board of Education adopted new academic content standards in English language arts, mathematics, social studies and science that were developed with career and college-readiness in mind. In addition, Ohio's Race to the Top strategy, which was selected for funding by the U.S. Department of Education in August 2010, includes initiatives that will help teachers transition to these new standards with a focus on instruction and assessment strategies. These activities, coupled with the enhanced requirements of the Ohio Core, will enable teachers to provide their students with the needed rigorous classroom experience and instructional support.