Denver’s students improved slightly on this year’s assessments, but not enough to dramatically change the fact that the district remains about 20 points behind state averages in every subject.
Nevertheless, Denver Public Schools’ gains on the 2009 Colorado Student Assessment Program outpaced the state, and indicate gradual success under the Denver Plan reforms instituted four years ago by then-Superintendent Michael Bennet and continued by successor Tom Boasberg.
“There is good news in the consistent progress,” Boasberg said. “But there is a very deep concern that our rate of progress is not fast enough.”
The district had a mixed picture on growth — which tracks student improvement over three years.
Overall, DPS’s growth doesn’t show much opportunity for gaining on state averages.
Denver students were at the state’s median growth in reading, slightly above the median in math and moderately higher — at the 55th percentile — in writing.
Yet there were some excellent examples of schools making huge strides.
• Of the 161 schools in Colorado that demonstrated the highest sustained student growth rates over three years, 23 were in Denver.
• Of the 10 Colorado schools at the 65th percentile or above in reading for three consecutive years, four were in Denver: West Denver Prep Middle School and Lincoln, Steck and University Park elementary schools.
• Of the 25 Colorado schools in the 65th percentile or above in writing for three years, six were in Denver: West Denver Prep; Denver School of Science and Technology; KIPP Sunshine Peak; and Bromwell, Asbury and Steck elementaries.
• Of the 25 Colorado schools on pace to boost their students who were below proficient in math in three years, four were Denver high schools: Manual, Lincoln, North and Montbello.
Perhaps no school tells a better story in both growth and the CSAP tests than Beach Court Elementary School — a 350-student school near Federal Boulevard and Interstate 70 in northwest Denver.
Half of Beach Court’s students are fluent Spanish speakers, and 96 percent are eligible for federal meal benefits — an indication of poverty.
Yet the school had the state’s highest median growth rate in writing, the 11th-highest in math and 12th-highest in reading.
On CSAP tests, the school posted double-digit gains in 2009 in all core-content areas. Since 2006, the school’s proficiency rates have climbed 30 points in reading, 33 points in math and 40 points in writing.
Beach Court now has about 75 percent of its students scoring proficient or above in reading and math.
“There is no secret, and no mysterious formula,” said Frank Roti, Beach Court’s principal for eight years. “We all share the same vision — we want students to succeed.”
Teachers are empowered to lead and meet often to discuss ways to reach the children, Roti said.
One recent day, a week before teachers were expected to report back to work, Beach Court teachers were busy setting up their rooms.
Juan Osorio, a third-grade teacher, was hanging up posters and putting away books on his second-floor classroom. A former student was helping.
“Teamwork is the main secret,” Osorio said. “We care more about the children than the scores. The results from the CSAP are the consequence.”
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
