Free SATs offered for many Borderland students
Several of the Borderland’s major school districts are rolling out new programs offering free SAT and PSAT testing to high school students.
“All 10th-graders will be taking the PSAT, all 11th-graders will be taking the SAT,” said Patricia Cuevas, principal at Americas High School in the Socorro Independent School District.
Cuevas says the two tests will be given as a part of the school day, with the next SAT testing Oct. 15. Similar programs are going into place across the area.
School districts that confirm they are starting or already have programs like this are El Paso, Ysleta, Socorro and Canutillo ISDs. EPISD will be covering sophomores and juniors for the PSAT, and seniors for the SAT as part of a $250,000 program that spans many grades of college prep.
YISD will pay $136,000 for all juniors to take the PSAT, and all seniors to take the SAT. SISD allocated $152,000 for its program.
Canutillo ISD is putting up $98,000 for its college prep program, which offers the ACT for seniors.
It usually costs $52 to register for the SAT, $14 for the PSAT and $38 for the ACT, but schools can get discounts for doing it in large groups, such as with these programs.
According to SISD, there’s no concern that more students taking these tests will lower overall district ratings.
“It’s providing equal opportunities for every one of our students,” said Daniel Escobar, SISD spokesman. “Preparing them for the college or career of their choice.
