Harford County (Map, News) - Harford County high school students’ SAT scores dropped this year in reading, math and writing, according to test results released this week.

Math scores declined eight points to 515 this year. Critical reading scores dropped seven points to 502, and in writing, students scored 490, down six from last year.

“As a parent, this is very disconcerting, because these tests are the gateway to higher education,” said Cindy Mumby, vice president of the Parent Teachers Association at Bel Air High Senior School and mother of a senior at Bel Air and a freshman at Patterson Mill Middle School. “I can’t imagine something more important for the college-bound senior.”

The growing number of students taking the college-entrance exam have caused the declining scores, school officials said.

A total of 1,633 students took the Scholastic Assessment Test this year in Harford, compared with 1,510 last year and 1,564 in 2005.

“Traditionally, the more people who take the test, the lower the score is,” said Don Morrison, a spokesman for Harford County schools.

Attributing the growing amount of test-takers and the newly revised math and writing portions for the slumping results is an excuse, Mumby said.

“The test has changed but that’s not new this year,” she said. “I understand there is an effort under way for more students to take the SAT and that is laudable, but we should not fall back on that to explain the drop.”

Combined scores show Bel Air High School students scoring the highest in the county and Harford Technical earning the lowest.

kvolkmann@baltimoreexaminer.com