A new report released by the College Board shows that about 35 percent of Hispanic sophomore high school students took the preliminary SAT in Arizona during the 2013-14 school year. That’s the highest rate of Hispanic student participation nationwide from that grade level.

According to the report, Arizona also had the most balanced ratio of male to female participation among sophomores nationwide.

Peter Lang is with the Arizona Department of Education. He said schools most often administer the test to juniors, but added there are benefits to extending it to sophomores.

"There’s really a dramatic shift in sophomores," said Lang "And so what that means is that schools are using that as an opportunity again to get more diagnostic information to inform the types of programs and services and supports that they provide for their students."

Lang said that the high rate of participation among sophomores in the state can be credited to a grassroots-level effort among Arizona high schools.