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Stanford interviewer warns of steep drop in local applicants; trustees discuss SAT access and supports
Summary
A Stanford admissions interviewer told the board that applications from the district to Stanford 'plummeted' last year, and trustees discussed whether reinstatement of SATs is a factor and whether the district should add SAT-prep supports funded through LCAP or partner programming.
Sarah Turner, an admissions interviewer for Stanford University and a local Santa Rita board member, told trustees she and other volunteer interviewers saw a sharp decline in local applications to Stanford this year. "Applicants from the high school district to Stanford plummeted last year," she said, and suggested that Stanford's reinstitution of the SAT requirement likely contributed.
Turner urged trustees and staff to encourage seniors to apply and to ask students what barriers keep them from applying. Several trustees reacted with concern and proposed follow-ups: Trustee Rekidas recommended exploring LCAP funding for equitable SAT tutoring; others suggested a board workshop that brings counselors, lead teachers and students to discuss college messaging, dual-enrollment impacts, AP preparation and supports for first-generation applicants.
Trustee panelists noted tradeoffs — the district must weigh expanding dual/concurrent enrollment against AP rigor and questioned whether dual-enrollment GPA bumps could unintentionally change college-prep outcomes. A student speaker said peers use free resources (YouTube, Khan Academy) to self-study for the SAT, underscoring equity gaps in paid tutoring access. The board asked staff to return with data and scheduled follow-up presentations on college access supports.
