A Gwinnett County high school posted the highest ACT composite score in Georgia, and many metro Atlanta schools placed among the state’s top 10 scores.
Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology students in the graduating class of 2017 scored an average of 29.4 on the college-entrance exam, earning the Lawrenceville high school the top score in the state, according to data released by the Georgia Department of Education.
A 36 is a perfect composite score on the exam used by many colleges and universities to help determine college admission.
Gwinnett County Public Schools operates the rigorous science and math-focused speciality school, which started a decade ago and admits students using a lottery system. The school also led the state on the ACT last year.
Principal IV Bray attributed students’ test success to the rigorous curriculum, which requires students to take AP classes including calculus to graduate, and the district’s focus in younger grades on literacy and math skills.
The metro Atlanta area boasted many high schools with ACT marks high enough to crack the state’s top 10 list of scores. The top 10 list features a few ties for a total of 13 schools -- including five in Fulton County.
Fulton County Schools’ Northview High School placed second in the state with a score of 27.6.
“Historically, Northview has always been at or right near the top,” said principal Brian Downey, who added that the school is focused on “success for all” students.
That approach means the school looks at individual students and targets specific supports based on what they need to succeed, he said.
Downey also pointed to expanded internships and outside-of-school experiences that makes learning come alive.
Cobb County School District’s Walton High School came in third in Georgia with a score of 27.
Walton High School principal Judith McNeill, in a written statement, credited the students’ drive, community support, and “a fantastic faculty that works to support the students” for the school’s score.
Across the state, Georgia students scored an average composite score of 21.4, above the national average of 21. About 55 percent of the state’s 2017 high school graduating class took the ACT.
The state released the statewide average earlier this month. It released results of individual schools and districts Monday night.
Here’s the top 10 scores among Georgia high schools:
1. Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology (Gwinnett County): 29.4
2. Northview High School (Fulton County): 27.6
3. Walton High School (Cobb County): 27
4. Johns Creek High School (Fulton County): 26.6
5. Chattahoochee High School (Fulton County): 26.3
6. TIE -- Columbus High School (Muscogee County), Pope High School (Cobb County): 25.6
7. Lambert High School (Forsyth County): 25.5
8. McIntosh High School (Fayette County): 25.4
9. TIE -- South Forsyth High School (Forsyth County), North Gwinnett High School (Gwinnett County): 25.3
10. TIE -- Milton High School and Alpharetta High School (Fulton County) : 25.2
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