Rockdale County schools see decrease in SAT scores, consistent with state and nation

CONYERS, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) Class of 2022 graduates, like the state and nation, saw a dip in composite SAT scores over the previous year. The 2022 mean composite score for RCPS is 980. The mean composite score for Georgia public schools is 1052, and the mean composite score for U.S. public schools is 1028, both decreasing from 2021.

RCPS Superintendent Terry Oatts said the school system will focus on enhancing test preparation and providing a viable curriculum for post-secondary education.

“Consistent with the state and national data, RCPS saw a decrease in our mean composite score; however, RCPS continues to enjoy a net increase in SAT scores over the last four years. While predictably there will be fluctuations in college entrance exam scores from year-to-year, as each class is unique, we are focused on ensuring sustained success over time. While no one college entrance exam is fully predictive of students’ likely success in college as the College Board itself readily acknowledges, we are committed to supporting our students’ college and career readiness by enhancing a wide range of indicators. These include but are not limited to providing them with effective advisement, exposing them to appropriate test preparation for college entrance exam success, and affording them a viable curriculum that punctuates their postsecondary readiness for college, career, and military success.”

Students should be sure to complete the necessary core academic and Advanced Placement courses prior to taking college entrance exams. Often students take these tests before they have exposed themselves to the rigor of Advanced Placement courses, which are critical to posting a high score on this type of assessment. RCPS supports its students’ aspirations to go to college and will continue to provide free SAT preparation and improved advisement to parents and students so that they may achieve this goal.

Students must be exposed to higher level concepts, complex reading material, and sophisticated problem- solving activities at an early age. As a school district, RCPS will continue to provide increased opportunities for advanced and enriched learning that exceeds that of the basic curriculum.

RCPS recommends the following guidelines for students to be successful with college entrance exams:
• Know which entrance exam is required by the college for which you are applying (ACT, SAT). • Ideally, students should take entrance exams at the beginning of their senior year after successful completion of core content courses.

• Students should complete at least one Advanced Placement course prior to testing.
• Students in 11th and 12th grades should attend SAT prep workshops and utilize free online SAT prep tools such as www.khanacademy.com