Cherokee Seniors Increase ACT Averages, Exceeding Nation

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — The Cherokee County School District class of 2021 increased average ACT scores and exceeded national and state scores.

The class scored an outstanding 23.2 average, increasing from 22.6 in 2020, and topping Georgia’s 22.6 and the nation’s 20.3 averages on the competitive college entrance and placement examination. The scores ranked the district in the top 10 percent in the state.

Students earn a score on a scale of 1 to 36. The average district score by subject on the ACT used to calculate the overall compositive average are: English, 22.4; math, 22.8; reading, 23.9; science, 23.3.

“Our class of 2021 graduates yet again showed us how they overcame the pandemic’s challenges to succeed academically,” Superintendent Brian Hightower said. “We’re so proud of our students and of our teachers and staff, who worked incredibly hard under unprecedented pressure to ensure every student received the best instruction and support possible.”

The ACT is taken in lieu of or along with the SAT, and the class of 2021’s ACT scores follow SAT results released earlier this fall. The number of students in the class of 2021 who took the ACT decreased locally, statewide and nationally: in Cherokee Schools, 1,476 in 2020 to 1,007; in Georgia, 45,913 in 2020 to 29,202; in the U.S., 1.6 million in 2020 to 1.29 million. As with the SAT participation decline, this drop is attributed to the pandemic’s impact, including the University System of Georgia’s temporary waiver of SAT/ACT score requirements for admission.

Read more: Cherokee Students Increase SAT Scores, Outscore State

Scores from all Cherokee County high schools ranked high among Georgia high schools and surpassed both the state and national averages:

• Cherokee High: 23.1 (up from 22.3)
• Creekview High: steady at 22.5
• Etowah High: 23 (slightly down from 23.2)
• River Ridge High: 23.1 (up from 22.1)
• Sequoyah High: 24.2 (up from 23.1)
• Woodstock High: 23.6 (up from 22.6)

Georgia’s class of 2021 average also increased scores - to 22.6, up from 21.7 in 2020, as compared to the national average, which declined to 20.3, slightly down from 20.6.

“Georgia’s students continue to achieve gains on the ACT and other national exams, and I am enormously proud of them,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “Despite the impact of the pandemic, we have seen our students, teachers, and schools display great resilience and continue to work hard and succeed.”