Hispanic students in Montgomery County improved their performance on the SAT, bucking a national and regional trend of dropping scores. The 8-point rise to 1,477 out of 2,400 stands out in a year when scores dropped 10 points across Montgomery, 6 points in Maryland and 9 points nationally. White, Asian and black students in Montgomery lost ground, as did Hispanic students on the state and national levels.

Frank Stetson, chief school performance officer for MCPS, credited an increasing focus on rigorous courses for all students, and noted SAT committees in each high school that make sure kids get the test prep they need.