Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) students are outperforming their peers in Georgia and across the nation when it comes to SAT scores. According to data released by the College Board and the Georgia Department of Education, the mean SAT score of students in the GCPS Class of 2023 topped state and national averages on both Reading/Writing and Math. Gwinnett’s average score of 1091 (out of 1600) is 88 points higher than the national mean score of 1003 and 46 points higher than the state’s score of 1045. SAT scores are one of the ways students can access scholarships and post-secondary pathways.
GCPS Superintendent Dr. Calvin J. Watts says the district’s commitment to hiring the best educators is paying off. “I am so grateful for the commitment that our educators make to ensure that students are prepared and ready for these important steps,” Dr. Watts shares. “I also appreciate the vital support our families and school leaders provide to our students to ensure they have access to opportunities like the SAT to help ensure they realize their full potential.”
According to the College Board data, GCPS high schools remain among the best in the state. Evidence of this can be seen in student performance on the SAT. For the fourth year in a row, the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology (GSMST) has the highest mean SAT score in the state of Georgia, and 13 GCPS high schools, up from 11 last year, have mean SAT scores in the top 25% in the state. Those schools are GSMST, North Gwinnett, Brookwood, Paul Duke STEM, Mill Creek, Peachtree Ridge, Gwinnett Online Campus, Parkview, Lanier, Mountain View, Duluth, Grayson, and Archer. Two other GCPS high schools, Collins Hill and Seckinger, had scores that fell just outside the top 25% in the state.
This year’s mean SAT score of 1091 decreased slightly compared to 2022, when it was 1097. Meanwhile, national, state and some metro Atlanta school districts mean scores saw an even more significant decrease.
| Name | 2023 Mean Score | 2022 Mean Score | Increase/Decrease |
|---|---|---|---|
| GCPS | 1091 | 1097 | -6 |
| Atlanta Public Schools | 949 | 947 | +2 |
| Cobb County Public Schools | 1104 | 1111 | -7 |
| DeKalb County Public Schools | 993 | 1000 | -7 |
| Fulton County Public Schools | 1085 | 1101 | -16 |
| Georgia Scores | 1045 | 1052 | -7 |
| National Scores | 1003 | 1028 | -25 |
The decrease in GCPS’ mean score is disappointing and shows room for improvement. However, compared to local, state, and national mean SAT scores, GCPS students performed better than most of their peers in neighboring districts and around the nation, which saw a more significant drop in test scores from 2022 to 2023. Dr. Watts believes this is an indication that the district’s efforts to address learning loss are showing initial signs of success. He says GCPS remains focused on meeting the needs of each and every student and improving student outcomes, including increasing the number of students who take the SAT.
“As we continue to focus on teaching and learning, it is exciting to see that so many of our students are taking the SAT to move ever closer to realizing their college and career goals once they leave GCPS,” Dr. Watts shares.