Cherokee Class Of 2020 Outscores National, State SAT Averages

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — 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 Cherokee Schools' 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 Brian 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 and writing and mathematics, with a possible total score of 1600; a third section, a writing exam, is optional. The Cherokee County class of 2020 average evidence based reading and writing score is 559, and the math is 541; 59 percent 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 Cherokee County high schools topped national and state averages on the exam. Their scores are:

• Cherokee High School: 1114 (ERW 568, Math 546) - the highest average in CCSD
• Creekview High School: 1110 (ERW 560, Math 549)
• Etowah High School: 1102 (ERW 564, Math 539)
• River Ridge High School: 1079 (ERW 553, Math 526)
• Sequoyah High School: 1100 (ERW 558, Math 542)
• Woodstock High School: 1097 (ERW 554, Math 543)

Averages declined at all three levels from 2019 — Cherokee Schools by 15 points, U.S. by 9, and Georgia by 5 — with officials citing the pandemic’s impact on results. 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.