Summary:
In zip code 80917, there is one public high school serving grades 9–12: Doherty High School, located on Barnes Road in Colorado Springs and part of Colorado Springs School District No. 11. With about 1,715 students, Doherty is a large school where just over half of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The district itself ranks in the 43rd percentile of Colorado districts, and Doherty generally mirrors district performance while trailing state averages.
The most urgent concern is chronic absenteeism: 56% of Doherty students were chronically absent in 2024–2025, nearly double the state rate of 28.4% and well above the district's 45.8%. This likely plays a role in academic struggles, especially in math. On the 2025–2026 SAT, only 21% of 11th graders were proficient in math versus 32% statewide; PSAT10 math proficiency was 24% versus 39% statewide. Reading and writing is a relative bright spot, with Doherty matching or slightly exceeding its district on most English assessments, though still below the state. The school's graduation rate is 82.3%, above the district's 76.7% but below the state's 85.6%, and the dropout rate of 3.2% is double the state average.
Encouragingly, Doherty High School is showing signs of improvement. Its state ranking rebounded from the 26th percentile (1 star) in 2024–2025 to the 32nd percentile (2 stars) in 2025–2026, and 9th grade PSAT9 math proficiency jumped 9 points (from 20% to 29%) while reading/writing rose 7 points. Science and SAT math also improved slightly. However, with more than half the student body chronically absent and math proficiency still far below state norms, attendance and math support should be top priorities for families and school leaders. While Doherty has no direct public high school alternative within 80917, understanding these challenges and recent gains can help parents make informed choices.
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