Denver’s third grade Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) reading scores jumped five percentage points from last year, the state Department of Education announced today, with 55 percent of third-graders scoring advanced or proficient.

“These third grade scores reflect good, solid improvement in student achievement for Denver Public Schools,” said Superintendent Jerry Wartgow. “We are particularly encouraged that the number of third-graders scoring unsatisfactory dropped by six points.”

“We hope these results are an indication of what’s to come for all of our students,” said Chief Academic Officer Sally Mentor Hay. “If we’re seeing these significantly improved marks in third grade reading just six months into our new literacy program, then we’re hopeful we’ll see solid returns in other grade levels and other subjects as well.”

The district launched a new elementary literacy program at the beginning of the 2002-2003 school year along with an organized effort to improve reading and writing skills for secondary students who are not yet reading on grade level.

The elementary literacy program prescribes three hours of instruction time every day - 90 minutes in a reading block, 60 minutes in a writer’s workshop, and 30 minutes in a skills block. The secondary program prescribes a set course of two hours per day.

“All of our teachers, parents, staff and students are clearly taking the district’s goals seriously,” said Superintendent Wartgow. ”We’re focusing our work to raise expectations, improve the performance of all students and close the gap between better and poorer-performing students.”

All ethnic groups made gains in the number of students scoring advanced or proficient. The percentage point gains are:

• American Indian/Alaskan Native, 9-point gain (of 72 students tested, 57 percent were advanced or proficient)
• Asian/Pacific Islander, 11-point gain (of 161 students tested, 69 percent were advanced or proficient)
• Black (not Hispanic), 6-point gain (of 1,045 students tested, 53 percent were advanced or proficient)
• Hispanic, 5-point gain (of 2,760 students tested, 45 percent were advanced or proficient)
• White (not Hispanic), 2-point gain (of 1,023 students tested, 81 percent were advanced or proficient)

Student achievement results on the CSAP Lectura - the Spanish version of the test - jumped five points as well, with 60 percent of the 726 Spanish-speaking students who were tested scoring advanced or proficient.

Forty-three schools administered CSAP Lectura. Of those 43 schools, 21 tested at least 16 students, which is the minimum number required to have results reported. Of the 21 schools, 12 posted scores between 50 and 74 percent advanced or proficient this year; six reached 75 percent advanced or proficient. Twelve schools gave the CSAP Lectura test both this year and last; seven of the 12 made gains in the number of students scoring advanced or proficient.

“We’re getting closer to bridging achievement gaps,” said Superintendent Wartgow. “Scores for minority students increased but we have to continue to identify the strategies that will keep that trend moving in this positive direction.”

More than half of the 94 schools that administered the test increased the number of students scoring advanced or proficient, and scores for 29 of those 54 schools soared 10 or more percentage points.

Of the 91 schools that tested at least 16 students, the minimum number required to have results reported, 29 schools were between 50 and 74 percent advanced and proficient; 18 schools reached 75 percent advanced and proficient this year.

“Six months ago, Bill Owens awarded Denver Public Schools the Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award for 2002, and the first installment of this year’s CSAP results underscores our continued improvement,” said Superintendent Wartgow.

Among the many highlights:

• Hallett Elementary School - rated unsatisfactory by the state in 2002 - raised scores by 37 points from 26 to 63 percent advanced or proficient
• Swansea Elementary School - also rated unsatisfactory by the state in 2002 - boosted scores by 26 points, from 20 to 46 percent advanced or proficient.
• Among schools rated low - Ashley Elementary School raised performance by 14 points, from 30 to 44 percent advanced proficient ; Valdez Elementary School scores jumped 21 points, from 23 to 44 percent advanced or proficient; and Valverde Elementary School increased scores by 25 points, from 21 to 46 percent advanced or proficient.
• Asbury Elementary School - rated average by the state in 2002 - increased scores by 19 points, from 71 to 90 percent advanced or proficient.

Also, two schools with 50 percent or more of students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch scored at or above the statewide average (74 percent) for advanced or proficient in third-grade reading. Those schools were Bradley Elementary School (89 percent advanced or proficient) and Knight Fundamental Academy 75 percent advanced or proficient).

Of the eight schools rated unsatisfactory on the 2002 School Accountability Reports, six showed gains. Four of the six schools increased their “advanced or proficient” percentage by 14 points or more. The highest increase was 37 percentage points - Hallett Elementary School.

Of the 57 schools rated low on the 2002 School Accountability Reports, 32 showed gains. Twenty schools increased their “advanced or proficient” percentage by 10 points or more.

Of the 18 schools rated average on the 2002 School Accountability Reports, nine showed gains. Three schools increased their “advanced or proficient” percentage by ten points or more.

Last year, 50 percent of third grade students scored proficient or advanced - up from 49 percent in 2000-2001, 47 percent in 1999-2000, and 43 percent in 1998-1999.

A complete set of third grade CSAP reading results is accessible online at http://testing.dpsk12.org/res.htm. CSAP results for other grade levels and subjects will be released by the Colorado Department of Education later this year. Third-grade reading scores are reported early to assist teachers in developing individualized learning plans under requirements of Colorado Basic Literacy Act.