MCHS SAT scores dip 78 points

After significantly improving SAT scores in 2008, Madison County High School has received a much different report for 2009.

According to recently-released results, Madison County High School averaged a 1,404 on the test, a 78-point dip from last year.

“We’re disappointed in the fall off of scores, of course,” Superintendent Mitch McGhee said. “I think what we need to work towards also is a little more consistency.”

Madison County’s average, which was 46 points below the state mark, ranked 13th out of the 17 high schools within the Northeast Georgia RESA. Just last year, the school ranked fifth in the RESA with a 1,482 SAT average and won the regional Governor’s Cup for the most improved scores (those regions were designated by athletic regions, not the RESA). Earlier this decade, Madison County was honored for the most improvement throughout Class AAAA.

But this year, Madison County test takers averaged a 472 in reading, 471 in math and 461 in writing in 2009. The school fared better in all three areas last year, averaging a 502 in reading, 489 in math and 491 in writing.

“We seem to be a little bit more on a roller coaster with that,” McGhee said of the difference in results.

Madison County High School counselor Brittan Ayers said the school is trying determine the reason for the discrepancy.

“There’s nothing any different that we did between the two years,” she said. “Nothing changed. We can’t put our finger on any one thing that caused the scores to drop.”

Ayers notes that MCHS has “had some very good years.”

“It’s just like it was a bad year for us with our scores … It stands out as an odd year,” she said.

McGhee noted that MCHS is improving other areas of achievement scores, pointing specifically to end-of-course tests. Meanwhile, he expects stronger numbers in terms of the graduation rate.

“We’ve got unofficial news that our graduation rate is going to be the highest that its ever been in school history,” McGhee said.

But he said this year’s SAT report shows “that we have some work still cut out for us.”