SPRINGFIELD — The Effingham County School District is at the top of the area’s standardized testing heap.

During the Nov. 6 meeting of the Effingham County Board of Education, Director of Curriculum Wendy Porter reported that the class of 2019 from the system’s two high schools set the pace for the ACT and SAT in the First District Regional Educational Service Agency (FDRESA). 

“We are very proud of our schools,” Porter said. “We always like to celebrate when we are right up there at the top.”

Effingham County and South Effingham’s total mean SAT score was 1086, a nine-point improvement since the test on reading, writing and math started its current format two years ago. A perfect score is 1600.

Other FDRESA scores include Bryan County (1082), Camden County (1067), Glynn County (1054), Bulloch County (1043), Vidalia City (1029), Evans County (1027), Wayne County (1021), Screven County (1012), Appling County (1008), Candler County (1001), Savannah-Chatham County (996). Tattnall County (996), McIntosh County (995), Liberty County (991), Jeff Davis County (986), Toombs County (974) and Long County (954) round out the district.

In 2019, Effingham County’s average SAT score jumped 37 points to 1084 over the previous year. South Effingham’s dipped from 1109 to 1086.

Since the SAT was revised in 2017, Effingham County’s score has improved 11 points. South Effingham’s score is up 10 points. That goes against state and national trends.

Georgia’s average SAT score has dipped from 1050 to 1048 since 2017. The national average is down to 1039 from 1048 during the same span.

“That’s kudos to our schools,” Porter said.

The ACT is a broader exam that tests knowledge in reading, English, science and math. A perfect score is 36.

The Effingham County School District’s composite ACT score moved from 21.4 to 21.8 over the previous year. Effingham County’s score jumped eight-tenths of a point to 21.8 while South Effingham maintained a 21.8.

Again, the local schools topped the state (21.4) and national (20.7) averages. 

 “We are steadily on the increase in Effingham County so we have to say ‘kudos’ to our students and to our schools for our growth that we are seeing there,” Porter said.

Other FDRESA composite ACT scores are Bryan County (21.4), Camden County (21.4), Appling County (20.5), Glynn County (20.5), Bulloch County (20.1), Candler County (19.8), Screven County (19.6), Savannah-Chatham County (19.2), Vidalia City (19.2), Tattnall County (19.1), Wayne County (19.1), Liberty County (19), Toombs County (18.9), Long County (18) and Jeff Davis County (17.5). Evans County and McIntosh County had 15 or fewer ACT assessments administered.

The Effingham County School District also celebrated success at all levels in the College and Career Ready Performance Index. Information Systems Coordinator Missy Roddenberry reported that it finished first, fourth and sixth, respectively, among FDRESA elementary, middle and high schools for 2018-19.

“Our elementary schools did really well,” Roddneberry said.

Effingham County’s elementary CCRPI score of 86.8 far surpassed the state average of 77.1. Its average was the 11th highest out of 201 Georgia school districts.

Springfield Elementary (69.8) was the lone Effingham County school that didn’t exceed Georgia’s average. The leading FDRESA score (92.7) was posted by South Effingham Elementary.

Camden County (84.4), Long County (83.8) and Bryan County (83.6) were the FDRESA districts that outperformed Effingham County (82.6) at the middle school level. South Effingham Middle (82.1) led local schools with Ebenezer Middle (80.2) and Effingham County Middle (79.1) close behind.

The average middle school CCRPI in Georgia is 77.1

 At the high school level, Effingham County (79.7) and South Effingham (80.2) topped the state average (77). Camden County (95.4), Bryan County (88), Glynn County (85.8), Screven County (84.8) and Candler County (82.6) were the FDRESA districts that outperformed Effingham County.

Roddenberry said, “Our overall CCRPI performance — that is all scores put together as a district — is 83.8 and the state of Georgia average is 75.9. That puts us 19th out 209. I think that is great.

“You can always grow but I think 19th out of 209 is something to be proud of and, out of our RESA district, we are number three.”

The Effingham County School District is not content with its CCRPI standing. Each school is devising plans to improve.

CCRPI scores were released Oct. 25.