The Top High Schools in Colorado by SAT Scores

56,620 Colorado seniors in the graduating class of 2024 took the SAT college admissions test and earned an average composite score of a 978 out of 1600. For comparison, 2023’s graduating class scored slightly higher with a mean composite of 990. Colorado’s mean composite score trails slightly behind the national average composite score of 1010 (down from 2023’s mean composite of 1028).

(Top image caption – Liberty Common High School in Fort Collins, CO had the highest average 2024 SAT scores in Colorado.)

SAT scores can be an effective indicator of student college and career readiness, and the best high schools are those which adequately prepare their students for college or a career. As such, if you’re wondering which are the top high schools in Colorado, then it’s a good idea to look at the ones with the best SAT scores! This article looks at general trends in Colorado’s most recently published SAT scores from 2024 with a focus on the top high schools across the state.

Colorado Scores in Context

Since 2015, Colorado has administered the SAT to all its high school juniors, meaning that the state’s data over the last several years is remarkably complete. In 2024, it tested 86.6% of students.

In general, states with higher testing levels tend to have lower average scores. This is shown in the graph below, which plots the average scores of all 50 states against the percentage of graduates who were tested.

Although the data is not perfectly linear, there is a clear correlation between higher levels of testing and lower average scores. One main reason for this is that they include results from students whose future plans may not include college-level coursework. (In some cases, these students will “take” the test but not actually complete it, resulting in artificially low scores). In states where standardized testing like the SAT is optional, most test-takers are self-selecting and academically advanced, which is reflected in their test scores.

SAT College Readiness Benchmarks

The SAT’s “College Readiness Benchmarks” are the scores (out of 800) on the two sections of the test that indicate a student’s chances of college success. When a student meets both SAT CRBs for the Reading & Writing and Math tests, they are considered college-ready in both subjects.

According to the College Board, students that meet or exceed the SAT Math benchmark score have a 75% chance of earning a C or higher in their first-college-semester math courses. The same goes for students that meet or exceed the Reading and Writing benchmark for their first semester humanities courses (such as history, literature, or social sciences). These benchmark scores are:

• Reading and Writing: 480
• Math: 530

More than Half of Colorado Seniors are Not College–Ready

Above: Percent of Colorado students (teal) compared to the nation (blue) meeting SAT College Readiness Benchmarks (College Board Inc.)

With an average SAT composite score of 998, Colorado’s Class of 2024 slightly trails the national average for students meeting SAT College Readiness Benchmarks (CRBs). Over half of Colorado students (60%) are prepared for college English, but only about a third of graduates are college-ready in Math (36%). These numbers slightly below the national average.

Colorado SAT Scores Show a Racial Achievement Gap

Sadly, there are racial disparities across students’ test scores.. Nationally, Asian Americans have the highest scores, followed by white students. Students who identify with American Indian heritage score the lowest, just behind students who identify as Black or African American. Students who identify as either Hispanic or Pacific Islander score somewhere in the middle.

Colorado’s 2024 results mirror these nationwide disparities. While 46% of white students and 57% of Asian students met both College Readiness Benchmarks, only 17% of Black students and 16% of Latino students did the same.

How to Improve SAT Scores

Luckily for students looking to increase their chances of SAT success, there are several actions they can take which are statistically likely to improve their scores.

1. Focus on schoolwork and take academically challenging classes. Students who do better in school nearly always do better overall on standardized tests like the SAT. Students hoping to improve their chances on the SAT should aim to take “core curriculum” courses (four years of English and three years of math, social studies and science).
2. Take the SAT more than once. There is a clear statistical advantage to retesting. Students worried about the cost of retesting should consider SAT’s fee waiver program, which allows eligible students to test for free.
3. Spend time studying and preparing specifically for the SAT. Taking practice tests helps students familiarize themselves with the content and the format of the test and gives them specific feedback. In addition, working with a tutor can be an effective way of improving a student’s weakest areas and developing test-taking strategies. Piqosity offers a full suite of free SAT Practice materials, perfect for students looking to increase their chances of SAT success.

Most Popular Colorado Colleges for SAT Examinees

Since the SAT is a college admission test, it follows that many students who take the test aspire to go to college after graduation.

Listed below are the top 5 schools that 2024 test-takers sent their SAT scores to:

• University of Colorado Boulder
• Colorado State University
• Colorado School of Mines
• Colorado Mesa University
• University of Denver

Admission to some of these schools is fairly competitive. At the University of Colorado Boulder (although submitting SAT scores is optional) the average SAT score of applicants ranges from 1170–1380. At Colorado School of Mines, the average SAT score of applicants ranges from 1330–1460.

Best High Schools in Colorado by SAT Scores

The table below presents 2024 SAT Scores from the Colorado’s high schools for which full data was available. Fairview High School in Boulder is the top, general enrollment school in the state. Explore the original data at the Colorado Department of Education.

Top 10 Colorado High Schools by 2024 Average SAT Scores

1. Liberty Common Charter School, Fort Collins (1278)
2. Stargate Charter School, Thorton (1273)
3. The Vanguard School (High), Colorado Springs (1265)
4. D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School, Denver (1249)
5. STEM School Highlands Ranch, Highlands Ranch (1239)
6. Fairview High School, Boulder (1216)
7. Golden View Classical Academy, Golden (1202)
8. Thomas MacLaren State Charter School, Colorado Springs (1198)
9. Ridgeview Classical Schools, Fort Collins (1186)
10. Denver School of the Arts, Denver (1184)

How to Read This Sortable Table

• The default sort is by total score from highest to lowest; to change the sorting order, click on the header by which you want to sort
• “Total” is the total SAT score from 400 to 1600
• “Math” and “R&W” refers to the school’s average scores in each section (Mathematics and Reading & Writing) from 200 to 800

Colorado SAT Scores

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For the full datasets referenced in this article:

• 2024 Colorado SAT Suite of Assessments Annual Report, College Board
• 2024 Total Group SAT Suite of Assessments Annual Report, College Board
• 2024 SAT/PSAT Data and Results, Colorado Department of Education

More Educational Resources from Piqosity:

• Which States Require the Digital SAT or ACT?
• Improving Reading Comprehension Skills for Standardized Tests
• Does the PSAT Matter? Why You Should Care About the Pre-SAT
• Books to Read for SAT and ACT Prep