Nearly three-quarters of Colorado’s third graders can read, putting literacy among that key group of students about where it has been for more than a decade.
Preliminary results of the annual statewide reading tests show a slight increase, from 73 percent in 2011 to 73.9 percent this year, in the number of third graders scoring at proficient or advanced levels on a statewide standardized test.
This year, only 8 percent of the state’s 63,393 third graders couldn’t read at grade level, down a single percentage point from last year.
And while the name of the standardized test may have changed from the familiar CSAP to Transitional Colorado Assessment Program (TCAP), scores statewide are about where they’ve been for at least a decade. This year’s scores nearly hit the state high-water mark of 74 percent, set in 2003-04.
The gulf between poor and minority students and affluent, white students remained wide.
Only 58.6 percent of Latino and 58.2 percent of black students scored proficient or better, compared with 83.6 percent of white students.
And only 59.4 percent of students who get federal money to pay for their lunch scored proficient or better, compared with 84.9 percent of students whose families earn too much income to qualify for federal help.
Within Denver Public Schools, which had an overall score of 59 percent proficient or advanced, some of the greatest gains were posted in so-called turnaround schools, where poor performance in previous years brought increased effort and resources to help kids improve.
West Denver’s Greenlee Elementary, in its second year of a turnaround effort, took the district prize for greatest gain, scoring 21 points better than it did last year. The gain brings to 55 percent the number of Greenlee third graders who read at grade level.
Several schools in far northeast Denver, where a major overhaul of schools — including closing three poor performing campuses and opening six new ones — has been underway for a year, also saw double-digit improvement.
Green Valley Elementary posted a 17-point increase, bringing the percentage of third-grade students who are proficient or above to 63 percent.
“We’re excited about that. It’s still not near 100 percent, and until we get there we can’t declare victory,” said Allen Smith, who is executive director of the turnaround effort in the far northeast area.
Smith gave partial credit for the improvement to longer school days and longer school years. His west-Denver counterpart, Antonio Esquibel, pointed to a “laser-like focus” on literacy, in all areas, from science to writing.
Both men also credited a push for greater parent involvement, both in reading at home and simply in getting kids to go school.
“Parents are saying to kids, ‘go to school and behave and learn,’ ” Smith said. “that’s a good start in an area that has had lower expectations for so long.”
Littleton Public Schools had one of the best showings in the metro area — and in the state —with 97.7 percent of students scoring proficient or better. In little Limon school district, 93.8 percent of the 32 third graders achieved that mark.
In Douglas County schools, 82.8 percent of students scored proficient or better. In Cherry Creek schools, the score was 80.8, while Jefferson County had 80.3 of readers at grade level or better.
Westminster 50, with only 46.9 of its students proficient or better, scored among the lowest in the state, with Adams Arapahoe doing little better with 51.5.
The remaining, official TCAP scores for other grades and in other topics, are to be released in August.
Karen Augé: 303-954-1733 or kauge@denverpost.com
