The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) is a standardized test that gives students early access to college and career planning tools and provides practice for the SAT. Our initiative, in partnership with the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District, allows all sophomores within the district to take the test free of charge during the school day. By taking the test as sophomores, students can begin planning and preparing early for life after high school. This test provides feedback, to both students and staff, on academic strengths and weaknesses as well as identifying opportunities for students to participate in honors and advanced placement (AP) courses, especially students who traditionally would not opt to enroll in those courses. The PSAT Initiative has contributed to an increase number of underrepresented students enrolling in advanced classes.
Community Discusses Importance of Initiative
Kelly Bowers, LVJUSD Superintendent
“This initiative addresses equity across the district. Now all students have equal access to the PSAT, which provides benefits to students, families and the district. We are grateful to the Pedrozzi Foundation for partnering with the district to help create a career and college bound culture among all students.”
Roxanne Kusske, LVJUSD Parent
“My daughter’s friends, who would not normally have taken the PSAT, had the privilege of taking the test during a regular school day. They were reminded to look at college as a choice. For some of her friends, money would have been a deterrent to signing up for the test. For others, their parents would not have thought to sign them up. The grant was a blessing for our community with its diverse population in terms of family understanding of the route for their child to attend college.”
Philomena Rambo, LVJUSD Director Community Engagement
“Students taking the PSAT are taking the first step toward a college education. With this test, they begin to connect with the College Board website, to explore their interests and possible areas of study, and to be identified as potential Advanced Placement students. Taking the test as a sophomore gives the students two full years of high school to fulfill requirements for college. I predict more students meeting college admission requirements upon graduation because of taking this test as a sophomore.”
PSAT Initiative Impact
- In 2013 the Pedrozzi Scholarship Foundation partnered with the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District to fund participation in the College Board’s PSAT/NMSQT Early Participation Program
- 976 10th Graders took PSAT in 2015. Prior to 2013, most economically disadvantaged students and many students whose parents did not attend college did not take the PSAT. Now ALL students have access to the College Board’s extensive college and career planning tools simply by taking the PSAT.
- Over last 5 years: 203% increase in Hispanic students and 170% increase in African American students taking the PSAT.
- Increased SAT scores – LVJUSD students who took the PSAT prior to taking the SAT in 2014 scored 24% higher on the SAT than those who took the SAT without taking the PSAT.
- Contributed to an increase in number of LVJUSD students enrolling in AP classes – 25% increase in test AP Exam takers from 2011 to 2015, 84% increase in Hispanic students taking AP Exams.