Predictive Validity of High School Rank and Sat Scores for Minority Students

Abstract

It has been argued that the Scholastic Aptitude Test is a better predictor of academic success for minority students than is high school achievement. The relative predictive validities were examined for a sample of minority students with typical predictor variable truncations absent. Results confirmed that high school achievement is a less effective predictor for minority students than it is for nonminority students. However, contrary to previous findings for minority students, high school achievement appeared to be a better predictor than was the Scholastic Aptitude Test. The combination of predictors was superior to high school achievement alone as a predictor for both "overachievers" and "underachievers."