DeKalb schools’ 2012 seniors posted a nine-point gain in SAT scores, earning an average combined score of 1343 for critical reading, writing and mathematics.

The district-wide gains also included strong performances among African-American and Hispanic students in mathematics and writing.

In the College Board’s annual SAT report released Sept. 24, DeKalb’s gain almost doubled the statewide five-point gain.

For the 2011-2012 school year, 4,099 DeKalb students took the SAT in March, May, June, October, November and December of 2011 and January, March, May and June of 2012. The test is used by colleges to assess a student’s readiness for college.

Five DeKalb schools – Chamblee High, DeKalb Early College, DeKalb School of the Arts, Dunwoody High and Lakeside High ­– exceeded the national and state combined average for critical reading, math and writing.

Six schools – McNair (75 point gain), Redan (41 point gain), Cedar Grove (40 point gain), Tucker (35 point gain), Miller Grove (18 point gain) and Stone Mountain (21 point gain) – doubled the state’s gains for critical reading, math and writing.

Twenty seniors at Elizabeth Andrews High had a combined 112-point gain for critical reading, math and writing.

Hispanic students scored their highest in critical reading and writing in three years, adding at least 13 points in each, outperforming state and national gains.

African-American students posted a six-point gain in mathematics, their biggest in four years, outperforming both the state and the nation.

The overall gains of female test-takers exceeded those of the state and nation, and DeKalb’s male students scored at or above state and national levels in critical reading and mathematics.

Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson said the gains are impressive and “shows how we can accomplish more if we keep our focus on educating children and implementing a new curriculum.”