News Release
August 2, 2004
CSAP Results Mixed; Elementary Schools Show Gains
Cole Middle School Transition Will Receive "Full Support" Of District
Superintendent Jerry Wartgow today applauded steady progress in elementary schools following the release of the 2003-2004 school year results from the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP).
"There is improvement in third- through fifth-grade over the past two years," said Superintendent Wartgow. "These results reflect two years of full implementation of the district's literacy program. The hard work implementing that program began in earnest in the elementary grades two years ago and these are the grades where we are seeing the most solid growth in student achievement today. Elementary school students, teachers and principals deserve credit for all their collective efforts."
However, Wartgow noted, results remain generally mixed or flat in most middle school and high schools, although sixth- and seventh-grades have shown some improvement.
"We need to continue to analyze these results and find what is working - and what is not," he said. "We began our focus at the elementary grades and that will continue while we work on improving performance in middle schools and high schools."
Superintendent Wartgow noted that the 27-member Commission on Secondary School Reform was organized last spring and charged with making recommendations designed to significantly improve student achievement in middle schools and high schools. The commission was organized to assist the Denver Board of Education in developing plans for using $2 million in new revenue, which was approved and earmarked by voters in November 2003 for secondary school improvements. That commission's report is due in January 2005.
"The results overall show some progress and we have always known that this will require sustained, organized effort and teamwork to make the strides we all expect," said Chief Academic Officer Sally Mentor Hay. "The programs in elementary schools require ongoing refinement and work, and secondary schools are clearly in need of the thoughtful reform work being done by the commission."
Of particular note, said Mentor Hay, is that elementary schools "are beginning to send on students to middle school who are better prepared."
All three CSAP results from fifth-grade show progress. In mathematics, scores increased from 30 percent to 35 percent proficient or advanced between 2003 and 2004. In reading, scores climbed from 41 to 46 percent proficient or advanced and in writing, from 31 to 33.
Results in mathematics were up for all grades except grade 10. "Some of these gains are modest and we are a long way from the kind of results we fully expect to see," said Mentor Hay, "but mathematics is an area where we are providing consistent direction and focus from the district and where we are pleased to see some improvement."
Results also show consistent growth between 2002 and 2004 (in grades three through seven) in reading, writing, and math.
However, results continue to reveal a gap between scores posted by white students and by Hispanic and African-American students.
On fourth-grade reading, for instance, African-American scores jumped from 34 percent proficient or advanced in 2003 to 40 percent in 2004. Hispanic scores on the same test were 26 percent proficient or advanced for both years and white students scored at 72 percent proficient or advanced in 2003 and 70 in 2004.
Hispanic scores increased in fifth-grade reading from 30 percent proficient or advanced in 2003 to 35 percent in 2004. African-American scores increased on the same test from 42 to 43 percent proficient or advanced. White scores increased from 73 percent proficient or advanced to 80 percent.
Cole Middle Schools
Superintendent Jerry Wartgow announced today that the district would fully support the Colorado Department of Education's implementation of the state's school accountability law - and continue to fully support students at Cole Middle School.
Results from Cole Middle School indicate that student achievement improved during the 2003-2004 school year, but not enough to avoid another designation as "unsatisfactory" under the state's School Accountability Ratings system.
The results set in motion a process that may result in Cole being operated as an independent charter school by the 2005-2006 school year.
"We know that the teachers and staff and principal have shown extraordinary dedication at Cole Middle School," said Superintendent Wartgow. "And we know the students worked hard, too, given the hundreds of students who attended voluntary tutoring classes last January and February. The Cole community has shown its commitment to holding high expectations for all involved in the learning process. However, the end result is that not enough progress was made and the district will fully cooperate as the steps outlined in state law are pursued."
The law calls for the state to issue a Request for Proposals for potential operators of an independent charter within the school building. It also calls for a state-organized committee to review the proposals and make recommendations on the charter applicants to the state Board of Education. After the state Board of Education selects one charter application, the district will negotiate a contract for the operation of Cole as an independent charter school starting with the 2005-2006 school year.
2003-2004 Cole Middle School Facts And Figures
Cole Middle School, 3240 Humboldt St., Denver, CO 80205
Phone: 303-296-8421
Principal: Nicole Veltze
366 students grades 6, 7 and 8
72.4 percent Hispanic; 25.1 percent African-American; 1.6 percent white; 0.8 percent American Indian
93.2 percent of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch based on federal poverty guidelines
Denver Public Schools CSAP Scores
Reading
Grade 3 Reading
2002: 50 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 55 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 54 percent proficient and advanced
4 point change since 2002
Grade 4 Reading
2002: 35 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 37 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 38 percent proficient and advanced
3 point change since 2002
Grade 5 Reading
2002: 38 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 41 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 46 percent proficient and advanced
8 point change since 2002
Grade 6 Reading
2002: 37 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 39 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 38 percent proficient and advanced
1 point change since 2002
Grade 7 Reading
2002: 33 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 34 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 35 percent proficient and advanced
2 point change since 2002
Grade 8 Reading
2002: 40 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 40 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 34 percent proficient and advanced
-6 point change since 2002
Grade 9 Reading
2002: 40 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 37 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 38 percent proficient and advanced
-2 point change since 2002
Grade 10 Reading
2002: 39 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 43 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 39 percent proficient and advanced
0 point change since 2002
Writing
Grade 3 Writing
2002: 29 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 35 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 32 percent proficient and advanced
3 point change since 2002
Grade 4 Writing
2002: 28 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 29 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 28 percent proficient and advanced
0 point change since 2002
Grade 5 Writing
2002: 28 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 31 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 33 percent proficient and advanced
5 point change since 2002
Grade 6 Writing
2002: 27 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 31 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 32 percent proficient and advanced
5 point change since 2002
Grade 7 Writing
2002: 27 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 28 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 27 percent proficient and advanced
0 point change since 2002
Grade 8 Writing
2002: 29 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 27 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 26 percent proficient and advanced
-3 point change since 2002
Grade 9 Writing
2002: 27 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 26 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 28 percent proficient and advanced
1 point change since 2002
Grade 10 Writing
2002: 29 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 30 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 28 percent proficient and advanced
-1 point change since 2002
Mathematics
Grade 5 Mathematics
2002: 30 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 30 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 35 percent proficient and advanced
5 point change since 2002
Grade 6 Mathematics
2002: 23 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 23 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 25 percent proficient and advanced
2 point change since 2002
Grade 7 Mathematics
2002: 14 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 16 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 17 percent proficient and advanced
3 point change since 2002
Grade 8 Mathematics
2002: 14 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 14 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 15 percent proficient and advanced
1 point change since 2002
Grade 9 Mathematics
2002: 11 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 9 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 11 percent proficient and advanced
0 point change since 2002
Grade 10 Mathematics
2002: 10 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 11 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 10 percent proficient and advanced
0 point change since 2002
Science
Grade 8 Science
2002: 21 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 19 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 20 percent proficient and advanced
-1 point change since 2002
Escritura (Spanish-language writing test)
Grade 3 Escritura
2003: 50 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 42 percent proficient and advanced
Grade 4 Escritura
2002: 37 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 40 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 34 percent proficient and advanced
-3 point change since 2002
Lectura (Spanish-language reading test)
Grade 3 Lectura
2002: 55 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 60 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 58 percent proficient and advanced
3 point change since 2002
Grade 4 Lectura
2002: 37 percent proficient and advanced
2003: 42 percent proficient and advanced
2004: 41 percent proficient and advanced
4 point change since 2002
CSAP results will be posted on the DPS website this week at http://testing.dpsk12.org. Statewide results (including DPS) are available on the Colorado Department of Education website at http://www.cde.state.co.us/index_assess.htm.
For more information, contact the DPS Public Information Office at 720-423-3414.