Fayette’s ACT scores flat but still third highest in Georgia

Students graduating from the Fayette County School System in 2015 showed high marks on the most recent college readiness ACT test compared to schools in Georgia and across the nation.

School system spokesperson Melinda Berry-Dreisbach said Fayette outperformed the state and nation with an average composite score nearly two points higher than both. Fayette’s 2015 composite score was 22.9. The state and national average composite score is the same at 21.0, Berry-Dreisbach said.

That compares with Fayette’s composite 2014 score of 23.2.

“2015 ACT results show Fayette County Public Schools is the third highest scoring system in the state with all five high schools posting average composite scores in the top 25 percent of Georgia high schools (compared to systems and schools with more than 100 test takers),” said Berry-Dreisbach.

A tally of ACT composite scores — with 36 being perfect — by school showed:

• McIntosh High – 24.6

• Starr’s Mill High – 24.2

• Whitewater High – 23.1

• Sandy Creek High – 21.4

• Fayette County High – 19.8

All but FCHS were above the state and national averages of 21.0.

A total of 1,090 students across all five high schools took the 2015 ACT, up one percent from last year, according to the school system.

“Individual school scores compared to 2014 remained unchanged or slightly down by a fractions of a point. The largest decrease was only five-tenths of a point,” said Berry-Dreisbach.

The ACT is a curriculum-based measure of college readiness. Areas tested include English, math, reading, and science, plus an optional writing assessment.