Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) continues to stand out as a leader in academic achievement.
In September, the Georgia Department of Education released the SAT results for the senior Class of 2024, revealing that GCPS students achieved an average score of 1016. This score is 21 points higher than the national average of 995, reflecting the district’s commitment to academic excellence. The state’s average student performance came in at 1030, surpassing the national average.
SAT for All
The Class of 2024 marks a significant milestone for Gwinnett County Public Schools as it was the first time the district offered the SAT to all enrolled students during the school day at no cost through the SAT for All initiative. Previously, GCPS students had to take the SAT outside of school hours, with families having to cover the cost themselves.
GCPS is the only school district in Georgia to offer the SAT during the school day at no cost to families, further demonstrating its commitment to providing equitable opportunities for student success.
Most school districts had between 0% and 50% of their seniors take the SAT, but Gwinnett County Public Schools had 11,196 seniors from the Class of 2024 take the test. This is an increase of 3,668 students (or 38%) compared to the Class of 2023, which had 7,528 test takers.
According to data from the Georgia Department of Education, GCPS had the highest number of students taking the SAT in the state, making up almost 20% of all SAT test takers in Georgia.
A strategic plan in action
GCPS Superintendent Dr. Calvin J. Watts is pleased with the results.
“It is encouraging to see more of our students in Gwinnett County Public Schools taking the SAT, as it reflects the expanding opportunities available to our students,” Dr. Watts shared through a news release. “This is our strategic plan in action. I am incredibly grateful for our educators, who work tirelessly to prepare students for these critical academic milestones. I also want to thank our families and school leaders for their vital support, which helps ensure that all students have the resources they need to achieve their full potential and thrive in college or careers when they graduate from GCPS.”
The GCPS School Board’s commitment to continue funding SAT for All is evidence of their Blueprint Strategic Plan in action. Increased participation and access means that students who may not have considered themselves college-ready also took the SAT. As a result, 4,254 students met the math and reading college and career-ready benchmark set by the College Board this year, compared to 3,915 who met the mark in 2023.
For more information about GCPS, visit gcpsk12.org.
