Gwinnett Daily Post

BUFORD -- During a time when SAT scores decreased at the state and national level, Buford City Schools have not only improved scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test, students broke the district record.

Posting a combined score of 1,570, the class of 2011 ranked 36th out of 406 schools in Georgia.

The system had a participation rate of 82 percent. Of those who took the test, 35 percent were minority students and 31 percent were economically disadvantaged.

High School Principal Banks Bitterman said he was pleased with the test results.

"It's been a journey, but it's been great," Bitterman said, adding that three years ago the school had a score of 1,455 on the college readiness exam.

The key to improvement, Bitterman added, is "setting high expectations and having high accountability for those expectations."

He also attributed the success in test scores to the people who attend the school and those who teach.

"I'm extremely proud of everybody for all their hard work and determination," he said.

The national average for 2011 test scores was 1,500, while the Georgia average was 1,445.

The SAT is a college entrance exam that is developed, administered and scored by the College Board.