Coweta school

officials are feeling pretty good about the release of SAT scores this

week.

"We were

23 points above the state average," said Public Information Director

Dean Jackson.

The system's

average was 1007, down two points from last year's scores.

Jackson said

Northgate High School and East Coweta High School posted significant increases

in this year's average test score. Newnan High School's average score

dropped, but from a record-high score of 1037 posted last year.

Newnan still

leads the school system at 1014 average score; Northgate posted a 1011

average score with a 16-point increase; and East Coweta High School posted

a 1000 average score and rose seven points from last year's scores.

Fifty-five

percent of seniors graduating from Coweta County high schools last year

took the SAT. Georgia school systems generally and Coweta County School

System particularly have a very large percentage of seniors who take the

SAT.

"When

you compare us with other states, you see how many of our students are

being evaluated. In South Dakota, which usually leads the nation in scores,

only 5 percent take the test," Jackson said.

Superintendent

Peggy Connell was pleased with the performance of all three high schools.

"We have

continued to see our scores rise at our high schools for several years

and, even as our participation rate has increased," she said. "We

are closing the gap with national averages even as we test a larger percentage

of our students, and we are very proud of that."

Jackson said

the drop of two points on the system average could be an anomaly and breaks

an unusual three-year increase in the average SAT score.

The SAT 1 (also

known by its previous name, the Scholastic Aptitude Test) is designed

specifically for students who have been enrolled in traditional college

preparatory classes and plan to attend a 4-year college or university.

Any student who wishes to take the test in Coweta County can.