Denver school officials on Thursday announced ambitious goals for the district over the next five years and then heard an outside critique by a national expert who saluted the district’s reform efforts.
Denver Public Schools is shooting for graduating 1,080 more students a year, getting 1,050 more students to score proficient in statewide assessments and sending 140 more students to college every year.
“You get what you measure,” said Theresa Peña, board president, adding that the lofty goals will drive the work of the district — the pace of reform, the curriculum and the budget.
Sixty percent of students graduated last year. The goal now is for an 85 percent rate by 2013.
Michael Casserly, executive director of the Council of Great City Schools, said the district is doing great work — noting only two Colorado districts outpaced Denver in reading growth over five years: tiny Branson Reorganized 82 and West Grand in Kremmling.
“You are at a very nice juncture,” Casserly said. “Keep with your general approach and agenda, but put the pedal down.”
