Fairfax County Students Continue to Outperform SAT State and Global Averages

Fairfax County seniors in the class of 2023 continued to perform well above state and global averages on the SAT, according to results released by the College Board. 

The Fairfax County average score for the class of 2023, 1181, was higher than the state average (1113) and the global average (1028). The scores for Fairfax County Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (596) and Mathematics (585) subtests are higher than the averages for students in the state and worldwide. This is true for all students and each reporting group, as seen in the table below. 

Newly released data alongside historical results shows that Fairfax SAT performance and participation are stabilizing after an initial decline during the pandemic. 

• Although Fairfax total mean scores are still down 31 points from the six-year high in 2019, the decline since 2022 is only 4 points. This small Fairfax drop for 2023 is in contrast to a decline of 11 points statewide and 22 points globally since 2022. 
• Similarly, Fairfax participation numbers and participation rates are still below the six-year high seen in 2018 but remain mostly stable from 2022, with 9,759 exam takers in the 2023 senior class compared to 9,880 exam takers in the 2022 senior class. 

Fairfax County Public Schools continues to offer SAT School Day to enrolled seniors, contributing to the strong participation rates across the division. However, Fairfax County participation rates reflect a developing nationwide movement to de-emphasize entrance exams within the college admissions process in addition to lingering impacts from pandemic testing constraints since 2020. 

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Note: For more information, contact the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Office of Communications at 571‑423-1200.