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Barrow County presents SAT/ACT results and outlines Georgia Match letters sent to seniors
Summary
District staff reviewed SAT and ACT participation and mean-score trends since 2017 and described the Georgia Match program that mailed eligibility letters to high school seniors in October to help them see in-state college options.
District staff presented the September communications and assessment report and reviewed trends in standardized testing participation and mean scores.
Presenters Jenny Persinger and Beth Mitcham told the board that SAT and ACT serve different student needs and scoring ranges (SAT maximum 1600, ACT maximum 36). They said test participation dropped during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and SAT participation has rebounded more than ACT participation. Persinger and Mitcham noted that ACT test takers remain a smaller cohort and therefore show greater year-to-year variance in mean scores.
The presenters said the state mailed Georgia Match letters to every senior in the state two weeks before the meeting. Georgia Match uses a student's GPA through the end of 11th grade and any test scores to identify institutions in the University System and Technical College System of Georgia for which the student already meets published eligibility criteria. The letters include an online link (Georgia Futures) and a “claim your spot” button that starts institution-specific application follow-up. Presenters cautioned that for a few institutions the application process remains more holistic (essay/extracurricular review) and those schools may not appear on every student letter in the same way.
Board members asked whether lower ACT participation meant some students were missing an opportunity to do better on that test; staff replied that counselors advise students and that offering school-based SAT sessions can encourage on-site testing. Presenters also said the state now reports the most recent test attempt rather than the first attempt when determining reported scores.
No action was required; the presentation was informational.
