District Five SAT scores, participation rate among the top in the state


District Five has the third highest SAT scores of any traditional school district in South Carolina. School District Five also leads the state in the percentage of students taking the examination, according to new data from the South Carolina Department of Education.

Eighty-five percent of School District Five’s class of 2020 took the SAT, compared to around 56 percent statewide. The district’s composite score was 1060, which is higher than the state average of 1019 and the national average of 1030 for all students. Every high school in the district had more than 75 percent of their class of 2020 take the SAT. School District Five students have scored above the state and national average each year on record since 1988.

“I continue to be proud of the accomplishments of our students,” said School District Five Chief Instructional Officer Michael Guliano. “They always exceed expectations with their hard work and pursuit of excellence. Our teachers deserve credit as well as they are truly dedicated to student success.”

The SAT exam is a standardized examination that measures literacy, mathematics and writing skills that are needed for academic success in college. The SAT is scored on a scale of 200–800, (in 10-point increments), on each of two sections (total 400–1600).

School District Five Superintendent Dr. Christina Melton said, “SAT scores reveal the collective effort of our entire system from preschool programs through secondary preparation. We applaud the efforts of our students along with our teachers and support of our families. Our board and community levy the resources to provide rigorous opportunities to prepare for secondary experiences.”

The SAT is offered seven times a year in the United States. Due to COVID-19, the testing schedule had to be altered this year making it harder for some students to participate.