Operation 1100 might sound like a secret undercover mission handled by spies, but in reality, it isn’t so mysterious. With PSAT and SAT testing out of the way, it’s only a matter of time before the averages come back, one DHS principal Dr. Jon Hoerl is hoping for it to be 1100.
As part of the Unified Improvement Plan at DHS, updated every 2 years, the goal for a schoolwide SAT average is the score 1100. The goal hopes to see DHS launched further into the rankings for top public high schools in Colorado.
The specific number of 1100 came from the averages of other top public high schools in Colorado, such as Cherry Creek High School and Fairview High School. Hoerl hopes that as the school’s SAT average increases, so does its ranking.
In the 2023-2024 school year, the average for DHS was 1053. To reach the 1100 goal, each student would have to answer 4-5 more questions correctly. However, Hoerl thinks the students of DHS can reach the goal. “We’re kind of on pace and on par to meet that goal,” he said.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the national average in 2023 was a score of 1023.
At DHS, while this goal is about pushing all students towards higher scores, the focus is to help push lower students. Many DHS students score above the 1100 benchmark, but some students still aren’t there.
“It’s continuing to push all of them,” said Hoerl, but the focus is on kids who are “right on the cusp of moving from one area to the next,” and helping them get to that level.
But the DHS administration, specifically Hoerl, aren’t just sitting there and hoping students will do better. Whether students know it or not, there’s been a school-wide push to help them learn the skills needed for this test.
All DHS students took a full length practice test in their science and math classes in order to prepare for the test, “so (the students) can have some exposure and see how the test actually works,” said Hoerl.
In addition, literacy skills like close reading, helpful on the English portion of the test, have been implemented in classrooms across the school.
Hoerl thinks that a slight dip in performance seen in the 2023-2024 school year was due to the new format, which is very different from the paper and pencil version used until the 2022-2023 school year.
The digital version has shorter passages compared to the longer ones seen on the paper versions.
The SAT is a benchmark of academics and is often submitted as part of college application.
However, many schools today are going test optional, meaning student’s don’t have to submit their scores if they don’t want to. According to the US News and World Report, 80% of US four-year colleges will not require testing scores for the fall 2025 admissions.
However, this doesn’t mean this test isn’t important. “Success on this assessment opens doors for all students,” said Hoerl.
These opportunities can include scholarship and recognition, many of which can help fund large parts of college tuition. Some notable scholarships include the National Merit Scholarship, which can be gained from the PSAT, among others.
In time, Hoerl thinks the scores will keep trending upward. “We’ll keep pushing. So once we reach our goal, we’ll always look to establish a new goal.”
