MCSD performance on revised SAT edges past state average

The new Scholastic Aptitude (later Assessment) Test — for years now formally and officially just the SAT — is, in at least one way, again the old SAT, and the College Board that designs and administers it says this year’s scores shouldn’t be compared with last year’s because it’s a different test.

Got all that? Good. Whatever.

But even if 2017 results shouldn’t be compared to those from previous years’ SATs, they can still be compared with others taking the same test. And by that standard, the Muscogee County School District closed the gap with the state average on the primary standardized academic test for high schoolers. In fact, for the first time, it has eclipsed it.

As reported by education writer Mark Rice, the MCSD’s average total SAT score was a point higher than the state average of 1050 and just 9 points below the national average of 1060.

It’s substantially higher than the average scores in any of the state’s other second-tier metro districts of Macon/Bibb (909), Savannah/Chatham (978) and Augusta/Richmond (996).

As Rice’s story noted, the SAT in 2005 was changed from the familiar two-section (verbal and math) test, with a maximum score of 800 in each section, to a three-part (reading, writing and math) test with a maximum total score of 2400. As of March 2016, the “new” SAT was again the two-section test; the College Board says the high school class of 2017 is the first since the switch with the majority of test takers using that format.

Columbus High, to nobody’s surprise, was a positive factor in the district average, with the fourth-highest average score in the state. But CHS, long a top performer, can’t account for this overall improvement. The credit for that has to be spread much wider.

Legion d’Honneur

The Atlanta Business Chronicle, citing Department of Veterans Affairs statistics, reports that there are about 13,500 World War II veterans living in Georgia. According to the VA, an average of 372 nationwide are now passing away each day.

But it’s not too late for some of those among us — and some who are not — to be honored for their valor of more than 70 years ago, in this case by a foreign ally.

As reported in the Chronicle, six Georgia vets have been awarded France’s highest military decoration — the Legion of Honor, created by Napoleon in 1802 — for their service in the liberation of France in 1944-45.

Four were decorated Monday at the Georgia Capitol: Josiah Benator, Atlanta; Bernard Parker, Milledgeville; Salvatore Pipitone, Athens; and Alvin Werbalowsky, Atlanta. Two others were honored posthumously: Bruce Estes, Dallas, Ga., and Edward Mercker, Marietta.

The honorees were designated by no less a personage than French President Emmanuel Macron, and the awards were presented by the Consul General of France in Atlanta Louis de Corail, who said of these extraordinary Americans, “Their selfless service and sacrifice make them examples for posterity.”

This story was originally published September 26, 2017 at 4:43 PM with the headline "MCSD performance on revised SAT edges past state average."