SAT scores beat state, U.S. averages

Columbia County's SAT average scores increased 12 points overall to 1,037 - above the state and national average.

The state reported a four-point gain from 980 to 984 - a figure still below the national average of 1,026. Georgia students ranked 50th in the nation on the test, placing higher than only the District of Columbia.

State and national test results were released Tuesday by the College Board, the New York-based nonprofit organization that owns the SAT, while each local school systems issued its own report.

Columbia County's verbal scores increased from 513 in 2002 to 518 in 2003, and math scores climbed from 512 in 2002 to 519 in 2003. Columbia County tested 78 percent of its senior class.

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"We are proud that our students continue to score above the state and national averages and that 78 percent of our graduates are taking the SAT in preparation for higher education," Columbia County School Superintendent Tommy Price said.

With an average score of 1,114, Lakeside High School tallied the system's highest average. Last year, the school's average score was 1,099, a gain of 15 points. Verbal scores went from 543 in 2002 to 551 in 2003, while math scores went from 556 in 2002 to 563 in 2003.

Evans High School's total score went from 1,023 in 2002 to 1,061 in 2003 - a 38-point gain. The school's verbal score went from 516 in 2002 to 532 in 2003, while the math score went from 507 in 2002 to 529 in 2003.

Greenbrier High's average score climbed 17 points from 1,019 in 2002 to 1,036 in 2003. Verbal scores went from 508 in 2002 to 517 in 2003, while math scores went from 511 to 519.

Harlem High School was the only school that ranked below the state average. The school's average test score was the same as last year - 964. The verbal score went from 494 last year to 491 this year, while the math score went from 470 last year to 473 this year.

Scores are averages of the combined "best" scores of graduates who took the SAT during their high school career, combining scores from pupils on college and tech/career prep tracks.

School....2002 score....2003 score

Evans.......1023.........1061

Greenbrier..1019.........1036

Harlem......964...........964

Lakeside....1099.........1114

County......1043.........1059

Source: Columbia County school system

Some other correlations:

Highest scores 2003, college prep:

Lakeside math: 572 math (county average: 543)

Lakeside verbal: 560 (county average: 541)

Highest scores 2003, tech/career prep:

Lakeside math: 427 (county average: 409)

Evans verbal: 432 (county average: 417)

Lowest scores 2003, college prep:

Harlem math: 485 (county average: 543)

Harlem verbal: 502 (county average: 541)

Lowest scores 2003, tech/career prep:

Greenbrier math, 376 (county average: 409)

Greenbrier verbal, 366 (county average: 417)

Highest overall score:

2003 Lakeside college prep: 1132

2002 Lakeside college prep: 1126

Lowest overall score:

2003 Greenbrier tech/career prep: 742

2002 Harlem tech/career prep: 796