Cherokee County School District’s Class of 2020 outscored State and National averages on the SAT, according to results released this week by the College Board.

The CCSD Class of 2020 earned an average total score of 1100 on the curriculum-based college entrance and placement exam, which exceeds the National public school average by 70 points and the State by 57 points.  

“Our Class of 2020 seniors overcame many obstacles during the last half of their senior year, and we’re proud of their achievement,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said.  “Our students and teachers worked together to ensure teaching and learning continued at the highest level possible despite challenges.”

The SAT, the most commonly recognized measure of achievement for high school students, measures critical reading and mathematics abilities.  It includes two 800-point sections: Evidence Based Reading & Writing (ERW) and Mathematics, with a possible total score of 1600; a third section, a writing exam, is optional.  The CCSD Class of 2020 average ERW score is 559, and the Math is 541; 59% of the senior class took the SAT exam.  Some students choose to take the ACT, a different college entrance exam, and some students take both; ACT scores are expected to be released next month.

All CCSD high schools topped National and State averages on the exam; their scores are: Cherokee HS, 1114  (ERW 568, M 546) - the highest average in CCSD; Creekview HS, 1110 (ERW 560, M 549); Etowah HS, 1102 (ERW 564, M 539); River Ridge HS, 1079 (ERW 553, M 526); Sequoyah HS, 1100 (ERW 558, M 542); and Woodstock HS, 1097 (ERW 554, M 543).

Averages declined at all three levels from 2019 – CCSD by 15 points, U.S. by 9, and Georgia by 5 -- with officials citing the pandemic’s impact on results.  Dr. Hightower noted that he appreciates recent announcements by colleges and universities that they will be waiving entrance exam test results in response to the pandemic.  “We know students missed opportunities to increase their scores due to testing cancellations, but their performance still shows impressive mastery of critical skills,” he said.

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