Dear DPS Community,
It is with great joy that I share Denver Public Schools’ strong year-end academic performance gains across READ Act (early literacy), CMAS and COSAT/PSAT assessments for the 2025-26 school year. The data highlights widespread improvement across all grade levels, significant milestone achievements in district-run schools, and narrowing opportunity gaps for Black and Hispanic students.
Across the district on READ Act assessments, 69% of K-3 students were at Grade Level & Above (GL&A), a 3% point improvement from last year, while students who scored in the lowest level of Significantly Below Grade Level (SBGL) dropped from 21% to 19%.
Additionally, on the COSAT/PSAT, proficiency rates increased for Black and Hispanic students. Reading & Writing proficiency increased by 1.7% points and 2.9% points in Math for Black students and 2.3% points and 3.6% points respectively for Hispanic students. Students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) increased 2.5% points in Reading & Writing and 3.5% points in Math. Growth remained strong, with Reading & Writing increasing 2 points year-over-year to a Median Growth Percentile (MGP) of 52 and Math increasing 3 points to 53. Math growth was particularly strong for Black and Hispanic students; Black students had a robust 8-point year-over-year increase to an MGP of 57, while Hispanic student growth increased 5 points to a 53.
These year-end results reflect the dedicated focus of our educators, students and school leaders across Denver Public Schools. From meeting our strategic targets in early literacy to seeing widespread proficiency gains across the end-of-year data, our schools are proving that our scholars continue to head in the right direction.
I am particularly proud of the growth we are seeing among our Black and Hispanic students, as well as students with IEPs. While there is always more work to do, these achievements demonstrate that our commitment to equitable, high-quality instruction is delivering real progress for the students we serve.
I want to thank our incredible community, especially our scholars and educators, for their hard work last school year. This growth is promising and is setting the stage for a strong start to the 2026-27 academic year.
In collaboration,
Dr. Alex Marrero
Superintendent
Below are some highlights of Denver Public Schools Achievement and Growth data from the 2025-26 school year.
Highlights:
Excluding charters, 71.1% of students at district-run schools scored Grade-Level or Above on READ. This not only met the Strategic Roadmap Target, but is also the second highest ever and the highest since the pandemic.
Excluding charters, district-run schools attained 43.4% that Meets or Exceeds Expectations on CMAS Language Arts, which is an all-time high.
Likewise, district-run schools had a proficiency rate of 37.7% on CMAS Math, which is also an all-time high.
The 56.1% Meets or Exceeds rate for CO P/SAT Reading & Writing for district-run schools is the second highest in history.
District-run schools, excluding charters, had a 35.8% Meets or Exceeds rate for CO P/SAT Math, which is an all-time high.
Key READ Act & Early Literacy Highlights:
Districtwide Reading Improvement: 69% of K-3 students finished the school year reading at Grade Level & Above (GL&A), marking a 3 percentage point increase over the previous year. Students scoring at the lowest Significantly Below Grade Level (SBGL) dropped 2 percentage points from 21% to 19%.
Exceeding Strategic Goals: District-run schools Met and Exceeded the Strategic Roadmap goal of 70% GL&A, reaching 71%, a 3 percentage point increase year-over-year.
Widespread School Success: 65% of all DPS schools increased GL&A rates while simultaneously reducing SBGL rates. First grade led overall grade-level growth with a 4 percentage point increase in GL&A and a 4 percentage point reduction in SBGL.
Equity Gains: End-of-Year READ results showed a 3 percentage point GL&A increase for Hispanic students and a 1 percentage point increase for Black students compared to 2024-25.
Standout Schools: Lena Archuleta Elementary, Marie L. Greenwood Academy, and Trevista at Horace Mann achieved remarkable gains for Black students, reducing SBGL rates by over 10 percentage points and boosting GL&A rates by over 20 percentage points.
CMAS Assessment Progress:
Math Proficiency Gains: 35% of overall Math scores Met or Exceeded Expectations, a 2 percentage point improvement from last year.
Dual-Subject & Grade Growth: The percentage of students Meeting or Exceeding Expectations in both subjects of Math and Language Arts increased across all grade levels.
Broad Impact: 57% of schools improved student outcomes in Language Arts, and 63% saw gains in Math. Black and Hispanic students each posted a 2 percentage point increase in Math proficiency.
Top CMAS Performers: Academia Ana Marie Sandoval, Grant Ranch ECE-8 School, John H. Amesse Elementary, Lena Archuleta Elementary, Trevista at Horace Mann, and Willow Elementary showed significant year-over-year performance gains in both Language Arts and Math.
Outpacing the State: Across the majority of grades and student groups, DPS tied or outperformed the State in CMAS English Language Arts and Math growth.
Consistent Growth: English Language Arts growth remained consistent year-over-year with an MGP of 55 and continued to outpace the State’s MGP of 50. Math growth also remained consistent year-over-year with an MGP of 53, compared to the State’s MGP of 50.
COSAT / PSAT Results:
Record Gains: Reading & Writing (R&W) proficiency rose to 55% (+1 percentage point year-over-year), beating pre-pandemic levels, while Math proficiency rose to 36% (+3 percentage points year-over-year).
Demographic & Special Education Progress: Black students (+1.7% points R&W / +2.9% points Math) and Hispanic students (+2.3% points R&W / +3.6% points Math) demonstrated ongoing progress. Students with IEPs achieved significant proficiency gains, reaching 21% in Reading & Writing (+2.5% points) and 9% in Math (+3.5% points).
High-Proficiency Gain High Schools: Five schools improved proficiency by 10 percentage points or more year-over-year in at least one subject:
Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy: +17% points in R&W, +14% points in Math
North Engagement Center: +15% points in R&W
Denver Montessori Junior High and Senior High: +12% points in R&W, +8% points in Math
John F. Kennedy High School: +11% points in R&W
Summit at Castro: +10% points in Math
Outpacing the State: Across the majority of grades and student groups, DPS tied or outperformed the State in CO SAT/PSAT R&W and Math growth.
Accelerating Growth: The DPS Reading and Writing MGP increased 2 points year-over-year to 52 and the Math MGP increased 3 points to 53, outperforming the State’s MGPs of 49 and 50, respectively.