Find out how your school compares to the state's best.
TRENTON -- The average statewide SAT score in New Jersey's public high schools was 1,075 out of 1,600 last school year, the first year students participated in a redesigned exam, according to new state data.
Average overall scores among specific high schools ranged from a high of 1,506 to a low of 728. Statewide, the average score was a 537 on the reading section and a 538 in math.
Use the search tool at the bottom of this story to compare scores for any public high school.
The newest SAT scores were released by the state Department of Education Tuesday as part of its annual School Performance Reports, an array of data that includes test scores, demographics and other information about every public school in the state.
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The scores reflect all SAT exams New Jersey students took during the 2015-16 school year. Scores from exams taken prior to March 2016 were converted to match the scoring for the new SAT exam that debuted that month, so schools' SAT scores cannot be compared to previous years.
Though some colleges have moved away from using SAT scores in admissions decisions, the test remains a key element of student applications at most colleges.
The scores, however, are strongly tied to demographics. Students are more likely to score well if they have parents who attended college and high family income, according to College Board data.
In New Jersey, small academies or county vocational technical schools with selective enrollment dominate the list of highest scores.
High Technology High School, a pre-engineering career academy for Monmouth County's top students, posted the highest average score, 1,506.
Prior to March 2016, the SAT included sections in critical reading, mathematics and writing, each worth 800 points for a total of 2,400.
The essay writing section is now optional, reducing the total score to the traditional 1,600. Students are no longer penalized for wrong answers and the infamous obscure vocabulary words were replaced with more common words, among other major changes.
Carla Astudillo may be reached at castudillo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @carla_astudi. Find her on Facebook.
Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.