Mark Petersen is dancing again.
After hearing that all of McDuffie County's schools made Adequate Yearly Progress at the beginning of the school year, the superintendent created his own celebratory jig. Now that SAT scores for Thomson High seniors are at a five-year high, Dr. Petersen is at it again.
"We need to be able to celebrate, and we want those things to return," he said. "What business and industry have known for years is that you celebrate your successes. ... I'm a celebratory kind of guy."
The College Board released SAT results on Aug. 31, and McDuffie County officials were extremely pleased with the 19-point increase over last year's average score.
During the 2003-2004 school year, 105 seniors took the test, averaging a combined score of 947. Last year's average of 928 came about with fewer students taking the test.
"We're always excited to see increases, so of course we're just delighted," said Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Kathy Collins. "Remember that all of our schools made AYP this year, and so we knew that we had great things going on, and we know that our faculty is working hard."
According to Dr. Collins, an increase in scores at any level should also be attributed to those in the lower grade levels as well.
"Whenever we take a look at scores in McDuffie County, we're always very careful to just say that kids are prepared from the bottom to the top," she said. "It takes elementary schools and middle schools and high schools to make it happen for kids."
Despite the increase, McDuffie County's average is still below the state average of 987. This year's state average moved Georgia up to 49th in the nation, after finishing last for the past two years.
"We're not going to rest on our laurels. We're going to continue to work hard and provide those opportunities where those kids can be successful and increase student achievement," Dr. Petersen said.
School officials expect more good news in the months ahead as the McDuffie County school system attempts to make this year's theme of "good to great" happen.
"I anticipate bigger and better things to keep coming. Some folks talk about luck," Dr. Petersen said. "Luck is where opportunity meets preparation. I think that our folks have been prepared in trying to prepare these children, and the opportunity is coming for us to be able to show what we know."
By KRISTOPHER WELLS
Staff Writer
Mark Petersen is dancing again.
After hearing that all of McDuffie County's schools made Adequate Yearly Progress at the beginning of the school year, the superintendent created his own celebratory jig. Now that SAT scores for Thomson High seniors are at a five-year high, Dr. Petersen is at it again.
"We need to be able to celebrate, and we want those things to return," he said. "What business and industry have known for years is that you celebrate your successes. ... I'm a celebratory kind of guy."
The College Board released SAT results on Aug. 31, and McDuffie County officials were extremely pleased with the 19-point increase over last year's average score.
During the 2003-2004 school year, 105 seniors took the test, averaging a combined score of 947. Last year's average of 928 came about with fewer students taking the test.
"We're always excited to see increases, so of course we're just delighted," said Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Kathy Collins. "Remember that all of our schools made AYP this year, and so we knew that we had great things going on, and we know that our faculty is working hard."
According to Dr. Collins, an increase in scores at any level should also be attributed to those in the lower grade levels as well.
"Whenever we take a look at scores in McDuffie County, we're always very careful to just say that kids are prepared from the bottom to the top," she said. "It takes elementary schools and middle schools and high schools to make it happen for kids."
Despite the increase, McDuffie County's average is still below the state average of 987. This year's state average moved Georgia up to 49th in the nation, after finishing last for the past two years.
"We're not going to rest on our laurels. We're going to continue to work hard and provide those opportunities where those kids can be successful and increase student achievement," Dr. Petersen said.
School officials expect more good news in the months ahead as the McDuffie County school system attempts to make this year's theme of "good to great" happen.
"I anticipate bigger and better things to keep coming. Some folks talk about luck," Dr. Petersen said. "Luck is where opportunity meets preparation. I think that our folks have been prepared in trying to prepare these children, and the opportunity is coming for us to be able to show what we know."
