BVSD, SVVSD see high overall achievement in CMAS test scores

Aug. 17—Local school districts are celebrating high overall math and literacy achievement that suggests many students are recovering academically from pandemic disruptions, based on the latest statewide test results.

Both the Boulder Valley and St. Vrain Valley school districts outscored the state on all tests, according to scores released Thursday, and scores generally are rebounding following the pandemic. But that's not the case for all grades or demographic groups.

Statewide, significant achievement gaps continue to persist among demographic groups, most notably among English language learners. Another disparity that has emerged is that boys' test scores appear to be recovering more quickly than girls', a trend that is puzzling state education officials.

Students statewide also are rebounding more consistently in math than in language arts, according to the Colorado Department of Education. Scores are available at cde.state.co.us/assessment/cmas-dataandresults.

Students in the spring took the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) tests in math and language arts in grades three through eight, as well as science in grades five, eight and 11. High schoolers took PSAT and SAT tests for math and language arts.

The state in 2022 gave the full slate of language arts, math and science tests for the first time since 2019. The tests weren't given in 2020. In 2021, students took about half the number of tests and participation rates were low.

This year's Boulder Valley proficiency scores, when compared to 2022, generally improved or held steady in math in every grade other than eighth grade, including a 7 percentage point increase in third grade.

Boulder Valley Superintendent Rob Anderson said the district is particularly proud of the progress in elementary school math. Across all three elementary grades tested, the district increased its proficiency scores by about 3 percentage points to 56%.

"Our teachers have done a great job of meeting that challenge," he said, pointing to strategies that include stronger assessment practices, better alignment to state standards and data driven instructional practices.

Mirroring the state, scores were less consistent in language arts, improving on half the tests and dropping on the other half, including in eighth grade.

When looking at pre-pandemic scores, Boulder Valley students scored higher on most math tests than they did in 2019, except in seventh and eighth grade. For language arts, scores in third, fourth and eighth grades continue to lag behind those from 2019.

Two areas that represent challenges, Anderson said, are overall lower middle school scores and gaps in academic performance among demographic groups.

While the district's average proficiency score for all grades in language arts is 61%, it drops to 29% for Latino students, a 32 percentage point gap. The gap is even larger, about 39 percentage points, when compared to the average proficiency score for white students of 68%. There's a similar gap in math.

The district's three middle schools with the highest needs — Angevine, Broomfield Heights and Casey — started work this summer with the with the University of Virginia's Partnership for Leaders in Education program. They're also receiving extra resources from the school district.

"Our hope is that, by giving those schools that intensive level of support, there will be lessons learned that we can scale to all of our middle schools," Anderson said.

St. Vrain Valley's proficiency scores, when compared to 2022, improved in language arts in every grade except third, as well as in math in all grades except third and eighth.

With the exception of eighth grade, St. Vrain students also scored higher on every English test when compared to 2019, bucking the state trend. In math, students scored higher on three of the six tests.

"One of the areas we are celebrating is that achievement data is higher in many areas than it was in 2019," said St. Vrain Deputy Superintendent Jackie Kapushion. "Our intervention programs really are paying off for our students."

She said strategies include a research based reading program, a focus on advanced math in upper elementary and middle school to prepare students for high school, and afterschool tutoring and summer programs to extend learning time.

St. Vrain Valley leaders also urged caution in interpreting the scores, noting that they're often seen as an end-of-year benchmark, when in reality students are tested with another two months left of the school year.

As in Boulder Valley, St. Vrain scores show achievement gaps among student groups.

The district's average proficiency score for all grades in language arts is 49%, while it drops to 26% for Latino students, a 23 percentage point gap. The gap grows to 34 percentage points when compared to the average score for white students of 60%.

Participation rates on the PSAT taken by ninth and 10th graders edged down from the previous year in Boulder Valley, while staying about the same for the SAT taken by 11th graders. About 87% of Boulder Valley's 11th graders took the SAT.

Boulder Valley's PSAT scores, compared to the previous year, held steady in 10th grade math and reading and improved in both subjects for ninth graders. Scores also improved in both subjects for juniors on the SAT. Overall, 82% met or exceeded expectations on the SAT in reading and writing, as did 58% in math.

In St. Vrain Valley, participation rates dropped a bit for both the PSAT and SAT compared to the previous year. About 90% of St. Vrain's 11th graders took the SAT.

St. Vrain Valley's PSAT and SAT scores improved from 2022 in grade 11 in reading, as well as in ninth and 11th grade math. Scores dropped in ninth and 10th grade reading, as well as in 10th grade math. Overall, 68% met or exceeded expectations on the SAT in reading and writing, as did 43% in math.

The Denver Post contributed to this report.