While the Cherokee County School District is ranked No. 1 in the State for SAT scores, its administrators and teachers are continuously seeking ways to ensure that every student is as prepared as possible for success on the important college entrance and placement exam.

Cherokee High School already was offering its students SAT prep sessions after school and on Saturdays, but this school year, the school began using Princeton Review curriculum for prep sessions. 

Teachers from the school trained in the Princeton Review method this summer, which allows the school to offer the program for only the cost of materials, “which is a fraction of the cost of the total program,” Cherokee HS Principal Debra Murdock said

Through the support of Russ Sanders, President of Factorymation, a Partner in Education, any Cherokee HS student who completes the 16-hour Princeton Review program will receive half the cost of his or her ACT or SAT fee “refunded” to him or her by Factorymation.

The school also looks for new ways to share test material, such as the “SAT Question of the Day,” which is sent out to followers of the school’s Twitter news feed.  

“The CHS counseling department and our teaching staff have worked to help each student realize the best testing plan,” Ms. Murdock said.  “We hope to continue to build upon the momentum of great SAT and ACT scores for our students!”

While SAT preparation long has been a priority at Sequoyah High School, the school for the last two years has concentrated on increasing the opportunities students have to work on SAT verbal and math skills within all academic classes.

Examples include the use of SAT practice questions in English, science and social studies classes; an “SAT Question of the Day” in math classes; and SAT practice essays in English classes.

Sequoyah HS also has increased the number of SAT prep classes it offers after school and on Saturdays and has timed them to be held during the weeks leading up to SAT administrations, especially those held at the school.

A new initiative that soon will be rolled out is “SAT Lunch,” which will offer lunchtime prep class several times a month.  Participating students will spend a portion of their lunch period working with an English or math teacher on SAT practice questions.  The target audience is the junior class, as many of its students will take the SAT for the first time in the spring.

Creekview High School also offers SAT tutoring that students can attend for a minimal charge through the support of its PTSA.  

Etowah High School Principal Keith L. Ball said SAT success is a school-wide goal as part of its School Improvement Plan, “so everyone has ownership.”

This goal is posted in every classroom on campus, and it’s carried out in various ways such as consistent use of SAT practice questions and school-sponsored PSAT exams for freshmen.

“The Etowah learning community has a strong history of valuing academic commitment and success.  This year’s SAT scores echo that value, but are more impressive in light of the challenges our students, parents, and teachers are facing,” Ball said.  “I am proud of the students’ perseverance and steadfast commitment to excellence.”