COVID-19 may have disrupted how Georgia students learned in the 2020-2021 school year, but it didn’t hurt SAT scores. Thirty-eight percent of the class of 2021 took the tests — a lower percentage than normal — but the scores beat the national average.
Georgia students recorded a mean score of 1077, 39 points higher than the national average for public school students. This is the fourth year in a row Georgia students bested their national counterparts.
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“Despite the fact that part of their high-school education took place against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, Georgia’s class of 2021 did an outstanding job on the SAT, both increasing scores and outperforming their counterparts in the nation’s public schools,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said.
Those higher numbers were also reflected in Richmond and Columbia County schools.
In Richmond County, numbers for reading, writing and math beat the overall results for all Georgia schools. The Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score, totaling 513, is the highest since the school system began keeping track in 2002. The math mean score of 488 was the highest since the 2016-2017 school year.
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“Our students and teachers worked hard throughout the pandemic and transitions of last year,” said Dr. Kenneth Bradshaw, superintendent of Richmond County schools. “Their commitment paid off and these results provide a glimpse at the successes ahead of these remarkable young people.”
Columbia County students also posted SAT results better than the state average. Their reading and writing mean score is 568 with the math mean score of 551. The district’s overall mean is 1118.
“We are so proud of this accomplishment thanks to the hard work of our outstanding students,” said Dr. Steven Flynt, superintendent of Columbia County schools. “Thanks to all of the dedicated teachers of the Columbia County for continuing to focus on instruction and keeping students focused on learning.”
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By comparison, the statewide reading and writing mean score is 546 and the math mean score is 531.
Woods said, “I am extremely proud of these students and these scores are a testament to their hard work and the hard work of educators in Georgia’s public schools who continue to offer stellar educational opportunities, even with the challenges of the last year and a half.”
The state education department said raw numbers from the College Board show a drop in participation at the national level. The class of 2020 had 2.2 million take the test. The dropped to 1.5 million for the class of 2021.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
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