"We are

pleased that Fulton students have once again risen to our high expectations,"

said School Board President Katie Reeves. "We know that our communities

look at SAT scores as one measure of school success. With this latest

news from The College Board, our school system has reason to celebrate."

Superintendent

John Haro concurs. "This good news is a reflection of how hard our

students and teachers have been working. It shows that our teachers are

teaching what is supposed to be taught, that kids are serious about learning,

and that our parents are supporting the schools and encouraging their

children to do their best," he said.

The news was

not so good for students at two South Fulton schools who took the test.

At Creekside students scored 431 on the verbal portion and 425 on the

math for a composite score of 856. The score represents a 17 point drop

from 2002.

At Tri-Cities

High School, students scored 418 on the verbal and 405 on the math for

a score of 823, which is a drop of 22 points from 2002.

The 2003 scores

continue a steady trend in Fulton that far outpaces the growth of both

the state and nation. Overall, Fulton showed a 10-point gain in its total

score (1049) while the state (984) and the nation (1026) showed four-

and six-point gains respectively. Fulton's verbal score increased by two

points while the math score increased by eight.

Three Fulton

schools had average scores over 1100. Chattahoochee High School topped

the list at 1132, a 37-point increase over 2002. Roswell High School followed

closely behind at 1117, reflecting a 21-point increase, while Milton High

School had a 26-point increase to score a total of 1102. Westlake High

School increased 14 points over 2002, the third consecutive year of increases

for the school.

Nationally,

almost 50 percent or more of all high schools experienced one-year changes

of at least 10 points (49 percent for the verbal score and 50 percent

for the math score). In Fulton, six schools experienced an increase of

10 points or more in the mean verbal score and three schools experienced

an increase of 10 points or more in the mean math score.

The district

will carefully review the scores and use the data for school improvement

plans. Research shows that students who take more rigorous courses, such

as Advanced Placement and honors classes, usually score higher on the

SAT.Additional measures, such as testing in grades 9, 10, and 11 with

the PSAT and SAT preparation classes at all high schools, provide students

a way to strengthen their academic preparation and to identify personal

strengths and weaknesses before they take the test.

A significant

factor in interpreting SAT scores is the proportion of eligible students

taking the exam ­ the participation rate. As proportions of students

taking the SAT rise, scores generally tend to fall. In Fulton, 89 percent

of the 2003 graduates took the SAT, which is a slight increase over last

year. The national average increased by 2 percent to 48 percent and the

Georgia average 66 percent increased by 1 percent.

The SAT, administered

section that measures an individual's vocabulary and reading comprehension,

and a mathematical section that assesses the student's arithmetic reasoning

along with algebra and geometry skills. Each section of the SAT is scored

with a range of 200 to 800 for a combined total of 1600. It is used as

a predictor of a student's potential for success in college and is required

for admission to most colleges and universities. The test is taken voluntarily.