More high school seniors from north county schools took the SAT last year, a source of encouragement for educators trying to increase the number of students taking the college entrance exam.

The number of students sitting for the SAT rose in the 2008 school year at North County, Old Mill, Chesapeake, Northeast and Meade high schools, according to figures released yesterday.

Only Old Mill High, however, had more than 50 percent of students sit for the exam among north county schools. Countywide, 54 percent of seniors took the test.

North County High had the lowest participation, with only 36 percent of seniors taking the...