A Note from Midwestern Region VP Ileana Rodriguez
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 Ileana Rodriguez |
Warm greetings from the Midwestern Region. I hope that those of you who have been traveling, vacationing or otherwise taking a break are back safely and ready for another exciting and productive year. The fall will be a busy one, kicking off already with Fall Counselor Workshops and preparing for Forum 2009 in
New York.
The College Board’s 2009 College-Bound Seniors report was released today. The report provides academic, demographic and socioeconomic information about students who took the SAT in 2009. This year’s group of participants was the most diverse yet, with 664,098 (40 percent) minority students taking the test. Hispanic students represent the largest and fastest-growing minority group taking the SAT and now account for 13.5 percent of all SAT takers compared to 7.8 percent 10 years ago. In 2008, 38 percent of test-takers were minorities and, in 1999, minorities constituted 29.2 percent of those taking the SAT. This tells us that we are making a real difference in our efforts to reach all students and help them prepare for college success.
Among this year’s participants, more than one-third (36.1 percent) reported that their parents’ highest level of education was high school or less and a quarter of 2009 SAT takers (25.2 percent) reported that English is not exclusively their first language, compared to 18.3 percent in 1999.
Minority students in the Midwestern Region participated in record numbers in the SAT this year. Of Indiana’s 44,511 college-bound SAT takers in the class of 2009, 16.2 percent were minority students, up from 12.0 percent in 2004. In West Virginia, 11.7 percent of the state’s 3,373 SAT takers were from minority groups; 10.1 percent were minorities in 2004. In addition, almost 40 percent of Indiana’s SAT takers and 32.8 percent of West Virginia’s SAT takers will be the first in their families to go to college.
How Much Are College Students Borrowing? is another recent report from the College Board. Coauthored by College Board Senior Policy Analyst Sandy Baum, the report offers information about all students who completed an associate or bachelor’s degree or a certificate in the 2007-08 academic year. Forty-one percent of these students graduated with no debt, although the number graduating with debt increased from 54 percent in 2003-04 to 59 percent in 2007-08. The largest increases were found among the students who earned certificates and two-year degrees. For more information, click here to access the full report.
Events & Workshops
Click here to see events and workshops in the Midwestern Region.
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During this pivotal time in our nation, the College Board invites you to join us for two special opportunities to connect with education professionals dedicated to effecting change and increasing college readiness.
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The College Board |
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