7th Street Elementary Principal's Report

7th Street Elementary Principal's Report
Posted on 02/05/2024

WE ENVISION EVERY STUDENT THINKING, LEARNING, ACHIEVING, AND CARING

March 2024

We have something to celebrate.  The state published their Performance Framework Results and our school is doing fantastic.  Attached to this letter is the report (graphic) you can find on the Colorado Department of Education website (www.cde.state.co.us). This report does require a little explaining, but in short, it says our academic achievement is meeting the state’s expectations.  Our students in grades 3-5 (the only students the state tests at the elementary level) averaged 75% on their Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) in English language arts and math.  This is a very good score and one of the best in the area if you look at neighboring schools.

 

If you look at the graphics, you may ask, why was the last rating before 2023 in 2019?  The answer to that question is that my first year as principal, when we would have taken CMAS, was in 2020.  That was when the pandemic hit and testing paused.  The state didn’t get on track to test again until 2022.  Then, in 2022, we had so many students opt out of the test that we had insufficient data (that means we didn’t have enough students take the test to get a ranking)

 

This was upsetting because we know our school is doing so well.  We see it in our district testing and our classrooms every day.  My teachers knew this and encouraged kids to take the test last year and we had some takers.  The sampling of students who tested was similar to the sampling of students in 2017 and 2018.  There were a few more students who tested in 2019.  At any rate, it is undeniable that a growth from 50% (2017-2019) to 75% (2023) is outstanding.

 

Another question you might ask is why under Final Performance Rating in 2023 does it say “Insufficient Data”?  The reason why is that we don’t have any growth data.  Students have to take the test two years in a row to show growth.  Since most of our kids opted out in 2022 we didn’t have any growth data.  The only way we can get a final ranking is to have both Academic Achievement  AND Academic Growth Data.

 

This upcoming year, we could maybe get a Final Performance Rating if enough of the kids who took the test last year would take it this year AND. . . if we ever want a Final Performance Rating we need to encourage our kids to take the test.

 

The point I am trying to make is that Dove Creek kids are SMART and Dove Creek teachers are OUTSTANDING!  What are we afraid of?  With our move into the new elementary school let’s get ourselves a final ranking.  Our students and teachers need to feel as proud of their academic achievements as our athletic achievements.  I know we are one of the best schools in the area and this is just one piece of data that shows it.  Encourage your kids to take the test in April!!


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