Friday, August 29, 2003

Fulton schools excell on SATs

With a system average of 1049, Fulton County has once again excelled on the SAT. The 2003 Fulton scores surpass 2002 scores by 10 points, with the system reporting a 23-point increase above the national average and a 65-point increase above the Georgia average.

"We are pleased that Fulton students have once again risen to our high expectations," said School Board President Katie Reeves. "We know that our communities look at SAT scores as one measure of school success. With this latest news from The College Board, our school system has reason to celebrate."

Superintendent John Haro concurs. "This good news is a reflection of how hard our students and teachers have been working. It shows that our teachers are teaching what is supposed to be taught, that kids are serious about learning, and that our parents are supporting the schools and encouraging their children to do their best," he said.

The news was not so good for students at two South Fulton schools who took the test. At Creekside students scored 431 on the verbal portion and 425 on the math for a composite score of 856. The score represents a 17 point drop from 2002.

At Tri-Cities High School, students scored 418 on the verbal and 405 on the math for a score of 823, which is a drop of 22 points from 2002.

The 2003 scores continue a steady trend in Fulton that far outpaces the growth of both the state and nation. Overall, Fulton showed a 10-point gain in its total score (1049) while the state (984) and the nation (1026) showed four- and six-point gains respectively. Fulton's verbal score increased by two points while the math score increased by eight.

Three Fulton schools had average scores over 1100. Chattahoochee High School topped the list at 1132, a 37-point increase over 2002. Roswell High School followed closely behind at 1117, reflecting a 21-point increase, while Milton High School had a 26-point increase to score a total of 1102. Westlake High School increased 14 points over 2002, the third consecutive year of increases for the school.

Nationally, almost 50 percent or more of all high schools experienced one-year changes of at least 10 points (49 percent for the verbal score and 50 percent for the math score). In Fulton, six schools experienced an increase of 10 points or more in the mean verbal score and three schools experienced an increase of 10 points or more in the mean math score.

The district will carefully review the scores and use the data for school improvement plans. Research shows that students who take more rigorous courses, such as Advanced Placement and honors classes, usually score higher on the SAT.Additional measures, such as testing in grades 9, 10, and 11 with the PSAT and SAT preparation classes at all high schools, provide students a way to strengthen their academic preparation and to identify personal strengths and weaknesses before they take the test.

A significant factor in interpreting SAT scores is the proportion of eligible students taking the exam ­ the participation rate. As proportions of students taking the SAT rise, scores generally tend to fall. In Fulton, 89 percent of the 2003 graduates took the SAT, which is a slight increase over last year. The national average increased by 2 percent to 48 percent and the Georgia average 66 percent increased by 1 percent.

The SAT, administered by The College Board, consists of two broad academic areas ­ a verbal section that measures an individual's vocabulary and reading comprehension, and a mathematical section that assesses the student's arithmetic reasoning along with algebra and geometry skills. Each section of the SAT is scored with a range of 200 to 800 for a combined total of 1600. It is used as a predictor of a student's potential for success in college and is required for admission to most colleges and universities. The test is taken voluntarily.