The average SAT composite score for students who graduated from Denver Public Schools in 2002 is 1029 (51st percentile). The composite reflects both verbal and math exams. This score represents a slight decline from the 1047 composite score (54th percentile) for the class of 2001. The 2002 national composite score is 1020; the Colorado composite is 1091.

DPS scores showed a decline on the verbal portion from 529 to 521 (57th to 53rd percentile) and on the math portion from 518 to 509 (52nd to 47th percentile).

The number of students taking the test declined from 743 to 685. This is the second year that the number of DPS students taking the SAT has decreased.

“The fact that the ACT was mandated for all Colorado 11th grade students in 2001 may be part of the reason for the decrease in the number of students taking the SAT,” said Assistant Superintendent Wayne Eckerling. According to statistics released last week, 2,714 DPS graduates from the class of 2002 took the ACT.