John Cohen, District Communications Director, Steilacoom Historical School District #1
In the past, Steilacoom High School administered the Preliminary Scholastic Test on Saturdays. This meant that only a limited number of students came in to take the exam. This year, the school administered the PSAT to all members of the school’s junior class who were in attendance on “test day.” Before, students who could not get to school on a week-end could not take the test.
“The purpose for giving the test to all was to have students get into a mind set for going onto an institute of higher learning,” said SHS Principal Jan McCrimmon.
The district, wanting to give all students an equal opportunity to take the PSAT, covered the cost of the exam and the test was administered during the school day.
Personnel from the district office and school counselors from around the district helped proctored the test, so that the regular school day at the high school continued as usual.
Now, approximately 215 students have the experience of taking an examination that might lead to college or other education beyond high school. Possibly, blanket testing of this group of students will find additional National Merit Scholars and others who rank high in academics based on PSAT exam results.