Colorado state test scores are in. How did Pueblo schools and districts fare in 2023?
State assessment scores at Pueblo schools remain slightly below pre-pandemic levels in most cases, but local districts have reasons to be optimistic.
Colorado Measure of Academic Success (CMAS) scores were released by the Colorado Department of Education on Aug. 17 and include results for English language arts and math tests taken in the spring of 2023 by third through eighth graders. A CMAS science assessment also is taken by fifth, eighth and 11th graders.
High school freshmen and sophomores are assessed in English language arts and math through the PSAT. Juniors take the SAT, a college-entrance exam. PSAT and SAT scores also were recently released on a school and district basis.
Consistent with a statewide trend of post-pandemic struggles, most grade levels in Pueblo County School District 70 and Pueblo School District 60 scored lower on CMAS assessments in 2023 then they did in 2019. However, several schools in both districts saw notable improvements in 2023 compared to 2022.
Where did Pueblo school districts see English language arts growth?
The state education department measures growth on state assessments through median growth percentile (MGP). Schools with an MGP of 50 or higher are identified as "meeting state expectations" for growth.
In Pueblo D60, seven schools met state growth expectations in the 2023 CMAS English language arts assessment. Those schools included Baca Elementary School, Corwin International Magnet School, D60 Online, Franklin School of Innovation, Goodnight School, Haaff Elementary School and Irving Elementary School.
Pueblo D70 had 11 schools meet expectations on the same assessment, including Beulah School of Natural Sciences Middle School, Connect Charter School, Craver Middle School, Desert Sage Elementary School, Liberty Point Elementary School, Pleasant View Middle School, Prairie Winds Elementary School, Skyview Middle School, Swallows Charter Academy, Villa Bella Expeditionary Middle School and Vineland Elementary School.
Swallows Charter Academy High School ninth through eleventh graders met state expectations on PSAT and SAT English language arts assessments taken last semester.
Where did Pueblo school districts see math growth?
In math, Pueblo D60 had 11 schools meet state growth expectations. Those schools included Bessemer Academy, Bradford Elementary School, Centennial High School, Franklin School of Innovation, Goodnight School, Heritage Elementary School, Irving Elementary School, Minnequa Elementary School, Morton Elementary School, South Park Elementary School and Sunset Park Elementary School.
In Pueblo D70, Beulah School of Natural Sciences Elementary School, Beulah School of Natural Sciences Middle School, Ceder Ridge Elementary School, Craver Middle School, Pleasant View Middle School, Prairie Winds Elementary School, Sierra Vista Elementary School, Skyview Middle School, Swallows Charter Academy, Villa Bella Expeditionary Middle School and Vineland Elementary School met CMAS math growth expectations.
Where is there work to be done?
In 2022, School Performance Frameworks released by CDE designated the Pueblo Academy of Arts and Roncalli STEM Academy "turnaround schools."
A "turnaround" status is the lowest School Performance Framework designation and Pueblo D60 has been striving to ensure its two south side middle schools are lifted out of turnaround status, while post-pandemic assessment scores improve districtwide.
"While we are pleased with the fact that most of our schools continue to maintain or increase their growth, we are aware that challenges remain due to lost learning opportunities during the pandemic,” Pueblo D60 Superintendent Charlotte Macaluso said.
“As we enter the new school year, we do so with a sense of optimism that a solid year of instruction will lead to even more schools meeting or exceeding state expectations following testing in Spring 2024.”
Making improvements in math will be among the focal points for Pueblo D70, according to Director of Curriculum Anthony Martinez. Starting this school year, Pueblo D70 will have job-embedded coaching for teachers in math from kindergarten through 12th grade.
"We have consultants coming in from all three of our math curriculum companies... With job-embedded coaching, our consultants will go in during the school day and work with teachers while they are actually teaching math," Martinez said.
School and district CMAS, PSAT and SAT results can be viewed on the CDE website.
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Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: What to know about Pueblo schools' 2023 test scores
