ATLANTA - ACT results show Georgia at the top of the pack among Southern states, outperforming Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida, West Virginia, South Carolina, and Texas.
Georgia students also scored higher than those in Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, Arkansas, Hawaii, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona.
Georgia students’ average composite score increased from 20.8 last year to 21.0 this year, which is now equal to the national average. Georgia’s ACT rank jumped from 30th in 2014 to 28th this year.
Among school systems in the Gainesville area, Hall County scored a 20.4; Gainesville City, 19.5; Habersham County, 20.9; Buford City, 22.7; Forsyth County, 24.6; and, Jackson County, 20. See the links below for details on every school district in the area and the state and other information.
Officials with the Gainesville school system say the district had more test takers in 2015 than 2014 and had slightly higher average scores in the areas of English and Science. In addition, there was a slight increase in overall scores from 2014 to 2015. In the area of English, the district had an average score of 18.6; the benchmark score to determine success in college English classes is 18.
Math continues to be an opportunity for growth in the district, as it is for the entire state. The district anticipates that recent changes to the math curriculum will further support students and provide the opportunity for increased scores in the future.
“The ACT is a one-day test event, so it is not the only indicator of college and career readiness,” said Sarah Bell, Chief Academic Officer for the district. “However, it is certainly one of the data points that we consider in analyzing ways we might continue to strengthen our programs.”
At the state level, “Georgia students’ ACT performance is on par with the nation and outpaces most other Southern states, and I’m pleased to see that,” state School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “These results are a testament to the hard work of our teachers. I think we’ll continue to see gains as we realign our focus and implement child-focused, classroom-centered policies.”
Scores in English, reading and science increased, with the average English score rising from 20.3 to 20.6, reading from 21.4 to 21.6, and science from 20.7 to 20.9. The average math score held steady at 20.5.
Scores also increased among minority students in Georgia, with the average composite score rising from 17.6 to 17.8 for African American students, 19.9 to 20.1 for Hispanic/Latino students, and 21.0 to 21.4 for students of two or more races. Minority students in Georgia also outperformed their peers nationally: African American students in Georgia recorded an average composite score of 17.8, compared to 17.1 nationally. Hispanic/Latino students in Georgia recorded an average composite score of 20.1, compared to 18.9 nationally.
The number of Georgia’s high school students taking the ACT increased by 7.8 percent compared to the year prior, with a total of 54,653 students taking the test in 2015. Ninety-one percent of this year’s ACT-tested graduates aspired to go on to some type of post-secondary education.
More information:
