Five Georgia High Schools Win Governor's Cup

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue and State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox honored five Georgia high schools today with Governor’s Cup trophies for improvement in SAT scores.  Governor Perdue initiated the statewide competition in 2003 as part of an overall effort to raise Georgia's SAT scores. 

  "In any competition – athletic or academic – how you prepare is how you’ll play.  Georgia's students are working harder than ever to perform well on the SAT,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.  "I know that dedicated teachers, involved parents and hard-working students all worked together on this outstanding achievement.  I’m pleased to recognize their collective success and present these schools with the Governor’s Cup trophies."

Each of the five high schools that won their respective classes was awarded a Governor's Cup trophy and a $2,000 grant towards SAT preparation resources.  Juniors and seniors at the winning schools also received T-shirts.   The Governor's Cup challenge is based on high school athletic regions and classifications previously assigned by the Georgia High School Association.  The winning schools are:

Towns County High School                              Towns County              A

Model High School                                           Floyd County               AA

Crisp County High School                                Crisp County               AAA

Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School              Catoosa County           AAAA

Savannah Arts Academy                                  Chatham County         AAAAA

"This type of improvement on the SAT comes from focusing on the importance of reading, writing and analytical thinking across all areas of the curriculum," said Superintendent Cox. "Our Governor's Cup winners are showing the entire state what happens when you combine hard work and high expectations. Congratulations to all of the students and educators in these winning schools."

            A regional champion trophy and a $1,000 grant were also awarded to 32 high schools with the largest numerical improvement in SAT scores in their region.  Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. is a partner in the Governor’s Cup, providing all prizes to the winning schools.

            The Governor's Cup challenge is a part of Governor Perdue's efforts to improve students' performance on the SAT and their potential for success in post-secondary education.  Along with the Governor's Cup challenge, Governor Perdue also launched gacollege411.org, an online resource providing post-secondary education planning materials to students statewide. 

Governor Perdue and Superintendent Cox have also made free online SAT prep classes available to all high school students.   In 2006-2007, nearly 40 percent of Georgia's high school students from private, public and home school programs used the SAT prep class.  

Governor Perdue has placed graduation coaches in Georgia's middle and high schools to identify students who otherwise might not graduate and help them back on the path towards a diploma. 

Governor Perdue and Superintendent Kathy Cox also announced the 2008 top score winners.  The following schools demonstrated the highest SAT scores in their GHSA class over a 3 year period:                       

Trion City                     Trion High School                                A

Decatur City                 Decatur High School                            AA

Richmond                     Davidson Magnet School                      AAA

Fayette                         McIntosh High School                          AAAA

Cobb                           Walton High School                              AAAAA

The following schools represent the Governor’s Cup regional winners: Alpharetta High School, Banneker High School, Brooks County High School, Burke County High School, Callaway High School, Campbell High School, Central High School, Chestatee High School, Clinch County High School, Colquitt County High School, Dawson County High School, Decatur High School, Douglass High School, Forsyth Central High School, Gordon Lee High School, Lakeside High School, Lincoln County High School, Long County School, Madison County High School, Mary Persons High School, Mays High School, McNair High School, Metter High School, Newnan High School, Oconee County High School, Parkview High School, Schley Middle High School, Sequoyah High School, Spencer High School, Treutlen Middle/High School, Upson-Lee High School, Vidalia Comprehensive High School.

For more information on the Governor’s Cup, visit www.satrocks.com.       

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