The SAT is a standardized test that gives you a score from 400 to 1600 with questions surrounding English and math. The scores from these tests are used as a factor for colleges to determine your admission to their school. 

Stagg counselors were often asked where to take the SATs, and they frequently had to refer students to places hours away from home. After much thought, they decided to try to bring it closer to them as there were no other test centers in the surrounding areas. 

Julie Gomez, an 11th-grade counselor from Stagg, stated, “[We want] our students to have the opportunity to take the test without driving since some of our students can’t drive.”

The critical planning behind the test being hosted at the school took months of work. Stagg had to hire additional staff to monitor the testing as well as have the College Board trained to know the testing rules and regulations.

Gomez says that the majority of the critical planning was “A lot of paperwork and preparing rooms”. The preparation of rooms consisted of, rearranging the desks to a test-eligible layout as well as covering the walls and any posters that might be useful on the test.

The counselors promoted that the test would be available to Stagg students by posting on the college and career center Google classroom for 12th graders. They included information about the test as well as a link leading to the College Board website where the student could register. 

Shocking to some, students from as far as the Bay Area came to Stagg to take the SATs. Gomez states “Parents said they woke up at 5-6:30 am to make the test time”

Stagg obtained access to the test through the college board where Gomez signed them up to host it. Signing up and paying for the test is done through the college board website, College Board just gives Stagg access test to administer it.

Jorge Hernandez, a Senior at Stagg heard about the testing through the head counselor, Brandon Alvarez. He decided to retake the test to improve his score and chances to be admitted to a college he applied to.

For UC and CSU schools it is not required to submit your SAT scores however Hernandez applied to many out-of-state colleges and universities so he decided to use the test to his advantage. 

Hernandez prepared for the SATs using many SAT workbooks which were provided by his aunt. He stated “I had to go over them every single day and make sure I perfected them so I can do better”

The test was hosted in A-Wing at Stagg High School on December 7th and began at 7 in the morning. Scores for the test are usually released 2-4 weeks after the test was taken.