Schools
Fairfax County Public Schools: Fairfax County SAT Outcomes Stay Strong Despite Pandemic Testing Challenges
The Class of 2021 in Fairfax County continued to perform well above state and global averages on the SAT, according to results recently ...
September 22, 2021
The Class of 2021 in Fairfax County continued to perform well above state and global averages on the SAT, according to results recently released by the College Board.
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The Fairfax County overall mean score of 1201 surpassed both the state average (1151) and the global average (1060). Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (601) and Mathematics (600) in Fairfax County likewise posted above the state and global averages, as shown in the table below.
2021 Fairfax, Virginia, and Global Public School Mean SAT Scores*
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Reporting Group
Fairfax Overall
Virginia Overall
Global
Overall
Fairfax Reading/ Writing
Virginia Reading/ Writing
Global
Reading/ Writing
Fairfax Math
Virginia Math
Global
Math
Reporting Group
All
Fairfax Overall
1201
Virginia Overall
1151
Global
Overall
1060
Fairfax Reading/ Writing
601
Virginia Reading/ Writing
584
Global
Reading/ Writing
533
Fairfax Math
600
Virginia Math
567
Global
Math
528
Reporting Group
Asian
Fairfax Overall
1294
Virginia Overall
1264
Global
Overall
1239
Fairfax Reading/ Writing
633
Virginia Reading/ Writing
620
Global
Reading/ Writing
597
Fairfax Math
662
Virginia Math
644
Global
Math
642
Reporting Group
Black
Fairfax Overall
1054
Virginia Overall
1009
Global
Overall
934
Fairfax Reading/ Writing
533
Virginia Reading/ Writing
517
Global
Reading/ Writing
477
Fairfax Math
521
Virginia Math
492
Global
Math
457
Reporting Group
Hispanic
Fairfax Overall
1095
Virginia Overall
1088
Global
Overall
967
Fairfax Reading/ Writing
552
Virginia Reading/ Writing
554
Global
Reading/ Writing
490
Fairfax Math
543
Virginia Math
534
Global
Math
477
Reporting Group
Two or More
Fairfax Overall
1213
Virginia Overall
1157
Global
Overall
1116
Fairfax Reading/ Writing
612
Virginia Reading/ Writing
590
Global
Reading/ Writing
565
Fairfax Math
601
Virginia Math
567
Global
Math
551
Reporting Group
White
Fairfax Overall
1220
Virginia Overall
1172
Global
Overall
1112
Fairfax Reading/ Writing
617
Virginia Reading/ Writing
597
Global
Reading/ Writing
562
Fairfax Math
603
Virginia Math
574
Global
Math
550
* Only the most recent results from the revised (2016) SAT assessment are considered. All score calculations are based on College Board public reporting, as of September 15, 2020
Fairfax County Public Schools recognizes that we have opportunities to explore the provision of rigorous learning opportunities to all students. These data continue to show evidence of persistent and predictable racial disparities. As we center equitable access in our decision-making, responding through the expansion of responsive learning experiences will be important. This testing data serves as a reminder that we still have much more to do as a system, and as a community, to provide the academic supports that all of our children need to be successful.
The pandemic had a major impact on SAT participation worldwide, due to COVID-related exam cancelations, combined with family reluctance to send their students in person for testing. The College Board reported a 31.4% drop in SAT participation globally, with a 33.4% drop in Virginia.
Fairfax County’s participation rates were substantially less affected, with a participation drop of only 4.4%, as FCPS offered SAT School Day for the first time in September 2020. The SAT School Day offered students the opportunity to take the SAT at no charge to them at their school on a designated weekday. As a result, 9,318 Fairfax County seniors took the SAT, representing 63% of the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) senior class.
“We recognize that priorities changed for many during the pandemic. Offering convenient access to the SAT at no cost, was our way to ease the burden on our families and students,” FCPS Superintendent Scott S. Brabrand said. “The fact that FCPS saw such a small decrease in participation shows that this concept worked.”
FCPS will again be offering the SAT School Day to interested students in grade 12 on October 13, 2021.
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For more information, contact the FCPS Office of Communication and Community Relations at 571-423-1200.
This press release was produced by Fairfax County Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
