About 6,000 Prince George’s high school students are using their weekends for test preparation rather than hanging out at the mall or playing on the X-Box.
The Maryland High School Assessments are rapidly approaching, and this time the test scores are for keeps.
Students preparing to take them, the Class of 2009, and all later classes must pass all four exams to graduate with a state-issued diploma.
The 6,000 students enrolled are trying to give themselves as much of an edge as they can.
‘‘Saturday school is critical for these students because the ones identified for the program need the extra help to pass their classes for the HSAs, like algebra, biology or English,” said schools spokesman John White. ‘‘Some middle school students are involved because they are taking the algebra class.”
The county system as a whole has some catching up to do since last year’s HSAs actually dropped off from the 2004 year scores.
School officials then admitted that more time and resources had gone to preparing elementary and middle school children for the Maryland State Assessments (MSAs) that lead up to the high school exam.
When confronted with the lower test scores, officials quickly realized they needed to turn high schools around fast.
Extra help for high school students on the weekends was a program that got top priority.
‘‘Research suggests that academic programs offered outside the school day can help children improve their overall academic achievement and work habits,” said Interim Schools CEO Howard Burnett. ‘‘We are encouraged by the response from parents and children and will provide the practice some students need to be successful.”
High school students began taking Saturday School Feb. 23 in the four subject areas on the HSAs, algebra, biology, government and English. The extra classes will run each Saturday up to May 20 except for Spring Break.
Students will take the tests in May and then again in June.
The 6,000 high school students attending Saturday School are only a part of the total of 20,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are taking part in after-school and weekend classes.
About 15 classes for the MSAs began in November. Those exams will begin March 13 and be given over a two-week period.
E-mail Guy Leonard at gleonard@gazette.net