Georgia SAT scores increase, national average drops

The average score of Georgia students taking the SAT has increased five points, while the national average took a seven-point hit.

“I’m encouraged by these score increases because they signal that more students may be prepared for college-level work,” state school Superintendent Richard Woods said in a news release. “As we continue to realign the focus of the Georgia Department of Education and pursue child-focused, classroom-centered policies, I believe we will see continued increases in SAT scores and other key indicators.”

About 77 percent of Georgia’s high school students who graduated last spring took the SAT.

The average critical reading score for Georgia students increased by two points, from 488 to 490, and the average score for writing increased by three points, from 472 to 475. The average score for math remained at 485.

Nationally, the average scores for critical reading and math each dropped two points, and the average score for writing dropped three points.

Here is a look at the average scores of students in midstate school systems.

BIBB COUNTY

Critical reading: 418

Math: 408

Writing: 409

HOUSTON COUNTY

Critical reading: 497

Math: 488

Writing: 468

PEACH COUNTY

Critical reading: 463

Math: 453

Writing: 452

TWIGGS COUNTY

Critical reading: 384

Math: 406

Writing: 388

MONROE COUNTY

Critical reading: 469

Math: 462

Writing: 446

JONES COUNTY

Critical reading: 464

Math: 462

Writing: 451

Find a full list of average SAT scores by school district here. 

To contact writer David Schick, call 744-4382 or find him on Twitter@davidcschick.

This story was originally published September 3, 2015 at 6:17 PM with the headline "Georgia SAT scores increase, national average drops ."