Area schools outpace state on SAT

UNDATED - Hall, Gwinnett and Forsyth counties are singing the praises of their high school students who have made big advances on the SAT college entrance exam.

The average Georgia score for the class of 2009 was 1460, a drop of 6 points from 2008. Georgia's average score has dropped for three years straight. the national average on the exam was 1509 compared to 1511 last year.

In Hall County, high schoolers taking the SAT scored an average composite score of 1463, an increase of 27 points over 2008. Five of the six high schools showed increases in composite test scores from a year ago; Chestatee High School, while still posting the highest composite score of all county schools, dropped 33 points.

Hall County bested the state average by three points, but fell short of the state average by 46 points.

Gwinnett test-takers topped state and national averages on all sections of the test. Gwinnett averages on all three sections increased, resulting in a five point increase overall.

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