Denver - Students in Denver Public Schools improved their proficiency rates on nearly all summative assessments this past spring in overall score and in scores across many of our historically underserved and underestimated communities. This includes the READ Act, CMAS, and Colorado SAT exams. In addition, DPS has exceeded pre-pandemic performance in CMAS Math and Science, while also setting an all-time high in those areas.
“I am extremely proud of our scholars as they continue to show improvement in nearly every summative exam,” said DPS Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero. “I am particularly encouraged to see that our Black, Hispanic, Asian, and White students are all demonstrating higher growth than their peers across Colorado in CMAS for ELA and Math. This progress is a positive sign that our focus on scaling quality teaching and learning across the district is making a real difference for all of our students.”
Reading to Ensure Academic Development (READ) Act Data
Almost 73% of our kindergarten students are reading at grade level or higher. This exceeds our pre-pandemic numbers. During this year’s assessment, every student group increased the percentage of students at grade-level and decreased the percentage of students significantly below grade level. Black students (up 4.59% points), Latine students (up 6.27% points), students with disabilities (up 5.58% points), and students qualifying for free and reduced lunch (up 4.65% points). These numbers outpaced the year over year growth than our White students (up 3% points) and students that do not qualify for free and reduced lunch (up 2.74% points).
This is the second consecutive school year where each grade-level that is assessed (kindergarten,1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade) increased in students who are reading at or above grade-level proficiency and decreased in students reading below grade-level.
Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS)
Math: This year, the performance of DPS students on CMAS Math was an all-time high. Each grade band (e.g. grades 3-8) maintained or increased in proficiency from spring 2024 to spring 2025. In addition, this is also the third consecutive school year with an increase in proficiency for 4th grade and 7th grade CMAS Math.
Science: This year, our student’s performance on CMAS Science was also at an all-time high for DPS. Performance on CMAS Science (across grades 5, 8, & 11) exceeded pre-pandemic performance by 5% points!
Literacy: This is the third consecutive school year DPS 7th graders have shown an increase in proficiency on the CMAS Literacy assessment.
Colorado SAT and PSAT (COSAT)
Reading and Writing: Overall, performance on COSAT Reading and Writing has returned to pre-pandemic performance. Our 11th graders have exceeded pre-pandemic performance on COSAT Reading and Writing by 4% points. This is the second consecutive school year with an increase in proficiency for 9th grade in Reading and Writing.
Math: Both 10th and 11th graders increased their Math proficiency year over year by 4% points.
Growth Data
DPS students continue to grow at or exceeding state averages in CMAS English Language Arts (ELA), CMAS Math, SAT and PSAT Reading and Writing and Math.
CMAS: The district’s Median Growth Percentile (MGP) for CMAS English Language Arts (ELA) was 55. This is five points higher than the State MGP. The district MGP for CMAS Math was 53, which was three points higher than the State MGP.
Colorado SAT and PSAT (COSAT): The district’s MGP for COSAT Reading & Writing and Math were both 50, one point above the state. Additionally, our Black students had an MGP of 49 compared to the State's 48 in both subjects. Our Hispanic students had a 46 in Reading & Writing, compared to the State's 44, and a 48 in Math, compared to the State's 44. We had a six-point year-over-year increase in MGP for English Learners for both subjects, bringing us to a 43 in Reading & Writing and a 47 in math (compared to the State's 39 and 41).
“This amazing data is a testament to the hard work of our students, educators and families,” said Marrero.