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NORWALK, Conn. A financial gift rippled through the community recently when hundreds of Norwalk high school students took the PSAT for free.
The success of the anonymous donation was discussed Tuesday night at the Board of Education meeting. "This was a very powerful day for us," said Suzanne Koroshetz, principal of Brien McMahon High School.
Students at both Brien McMahon and Norwalk High School had the opportunity to take the test last Wednesday, at school.
Norwalk High Principal Leonard Mecca said just under 80 percent of the sophomore class, 305 students, took the test. So did 280 juniors, about 88 percent of the class. "Those numbers are marvelous," he said. Last year, a total of 276 students took the test, and that included a few freshmen.
Koroshetz said 357 Brien McMahon sophomores and 350 juniors took advantage of the opportunity, about 90 percent of those who were eligible. "For them to have this is an invaluable experience," she said. "For some kids, this is the most important standardized test they will ever take."
The administrators said it was the first time the tests had been offered during school hours, a boon, as coming in to take the test on a Saturday is a deterrent for many teenagers who are involved in other activities. Taking time out of the school day also showed them how important their teachers think the test is.
Mecca said some seniors wished they had had the opportunity. He said he was surprised to walk into the cafeteria and have a female student instantly exclaim, "Mr. Mecca, it wasn't so bad!"
The test is a qualifying examination for the National Merit Scholarship program. Superintendent of Schools Susan Marks noted that, "It's been a while since Norwalk has had a National Merit finalist or a semifinalist." She said that maybe the sheer number of students taking the test might bring better results. She said if the program is continued, there will be a successful student in the future.
Last year, no one in Norwalk Public Schools qualified.
Koroshetz expressed gratitude to the anonymous donor and to Marks. "I know Dr. Marks worked very hard to convince this man to make this donation," she said. "... I'm really grateful and I hope that man has a lot more money."
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