Each spring, juniors at Huron High School shuffle into classrooms for one of the most talked-about assessments of their high school careers– the SAT. But for many students, the mandatory nature of the school-day SAT raises an important question: Should standardized testing really be required at Huron, especially when many students have already taken it — or plan to — on their own?
The debate isn’t about whether the SAT has value. It’s about timing. The required school-day SAT comes at one of the busiest and most academically demanding times of the year. With AP exams just around the corner and final projects piling up, juniors are forced to juggle multiple important tests. And while the SAT can be retaken, AP exams usually happen just once a year. As a result, students may prioritize studying for their AP courses, leaving little time to focus on the school standardized tests. This raises concerns about whether students are able to demonstrate their true potential– and whether the test is really worth assessing growth and learning.
However, besides timing, there are benefits to offering the SAT during school hours. For many students, especially those from low-income families, the school-day SAT provides a free opportunity to take a test that could boost their college applications without having to pay a fee to register. Barriers like transportation and weekend scheduling conflicts are also not a problem, offering an advantageous opportunity in these scenarios. In this way, the test can serve as a helpful tool– when used at the right time.
Standardized testing also helps in maintaining academic accountability. By having a school-day SAT, schools are able to assess whether students are meeting educational goals, helping to identify areas of education that might need improvement. Without some form of standardized measurement, it can be difficult to track growth across schools and ensure that students are receiving a high-quality education.
Ultimately, standardized testing doesn’t have to be eliminated altogether. It just needs to be thoughtfully implemented in a way that won’t hinder other important exams, especially if they are a one-time opportunity. If Huron is going to require the SAT for all juniors, it should be scheduled in a way that doesn’t interfere with the AP season or major coursework to help students perform at their best and allow the test to serve its intended purpose more effectively.
Standardized tests are meant to work for students, not against them– but it’s important that schools listen, adapt, and prioritize what really matters: supporting student growth in a meaningful way.
