Eagle, CO -- The Colorado Department of Education released the 2011 CSAP results and Eagle County Schools (ECS) shows an increase in the percentage of students in grades three through ten scoring proficient or advanced in the areas of reading, writing and math when comparing scores with last year.
“The increase in scores in these three core content areas for the third year in a row is testament to the hard work and dedication of our students and teachers,” states Dr. Sandra Smyser, Superintendent of Eagle County Schools. “As a District, we continue to push every child from their current level of performance to even higher achievement. From the looks of these scores, we are well on our way and will continue to improve and strengthen our efforts so that every student succeeds.”
Overall reading scores are up one percent, math scores are up three percent and writing scores are up four percent. In addition, the percentage of ECS’ English-Proficient students scoring proficient or advanced exceeded students at the state level in nearly every grade and content area tested.
The reading portion of the CSAP test proved to be successful for ECS students once again this year, with the District scoring 71 percent proficient or advanced. Six out of the eight grade levels tested overall met or improved their scores from the previous year, while seven out of the eight grade levels tested exceeded state scores this year. Additionally, five of the eight grade levels tested this year in reading had the highest number of students scoring proficient or advanced in five years. Notably, Avon Elementary School (AES) and Brush Creek Elementary School (BCES) improved their reading scores at every grade level tested. In addition, 100 percent of English-Proficient 3rd grade students at Eagle Valley Elementary School (EVES) scored proficient or advanced on the reading portion of the CSAP. Following closely behind were English-Proficient 6th grade students at Eagle Valley Middle School (EVMS) and 5th grade students at Edwards Elementary School (EES), BCES and Eagle County Charter Academy (ECCA), who all scored 97 percent scoring proficient or advanced. Battle Mountain High School (BMHS) and Eagle Valley High School (EVHS) English-Proficient 9th grade students improved their scores from last year, achieving 90 percent and 85 percent proficiency.
Third graders in seven out of the nine elementary schools improved or maintained their reading scores this year from last. Notably, Gypsum Elementary School (GES) 3rd grade students jumped from 61 percent proficient or advanced last year to 82 percent this year, while AES 3rd graders soared from 42 percent proficient or advanced last year to 73 percent this year. June Creek Elementary School (JCES) 5th graders, in particular, made huge gains jumping from 50 to 64 percent, the highest score in the school’s history. Other success stories include Red Sandstone Elementary School (RSES) and Meadow Mountain Elementary School’s (MMES) English-Proficient 5th graders scores increasing to 93 and 91 percent, respectively.
Notably, 6th grade District reading scores, as a whole, were up 78 percent proficient or advanced in 2011 from 75 percent in 2010 and 72 percent in 2009, while 8th grade reading scores were up to 73 percent this year from 72 percent last year and 68 percent in 2009. Seventh grade English-Proficient students remained constant this year at 88 percent proficient or advanced. Eighth graders at Gypsum Creek Middle School (GCMS), Minturn Middle School (MMS) and Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy (VSSA) were extremely successful on the reading portion of the CSAP this year, scoring 79 percent proficient or advanced. Berry Creek Middle School (BCMS) English-Proficient 7th and 8th grader students shined on the reading test this year, improved their scores from 80 percent last year to 95 and 86 percent this year.
Overall 9th grade reading scores in the District were up 6 percentage points this year, with 69 percent scoring proficient or advanced, exceeding the state level at 66 percent. Both traditional high schools showed improvements in the area of reading this year; Battle Mountain High School (BMHS) 9th graders scored 70 percent this year, up from 62 percent the previous year, and Eagle Valley High School (EVHS) 9th graders scored 75 percent this year, up from 73 percent the previous year.
Aside from the success in reading scores overall, student scores also improved on the math portion of the CSAP test this year. In the category of math, Eagle County Schools’ 3rd through 10th grade students improved or maintained their overall scores this year in six out of the eight grade levels tested from the previous year. In addition, students in 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th and 9th grades not only exceeded state scores this year, but also surpassed the highest percentage of students in the District scoring proficient or advanced in the past five years. Impressively, BCES, EES, Red Hill Elementary School (RHES) and EVHS either remained constant or improved their math scores at every grade level this year. AES 3rd graders boasted a whopping 37 percent increase this year, raising the percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced from 39 to 76 percent. JCES 4th and 5th graders showed increases this year, raising their scores from 64 to 77 and 35 to 64, respectively. RSES and EVES 4th graders also made some major strides this year as well, raising their scores from 74 percent last year to 88 this year and 65 percent last year to 82 percent this year. As for the middle and high schools, EVMS 6th graders dominated the math portion of the CSAP test this year, scoring 88 percent proficient or advanced. Eighth graders at VSSA and GCMS improved their scores from 55 to 79 and 62 to 77 this year. BMHS and EVHS 9th graders not only exceeded state scores this year at 48 and 52 percent vs. 38 percent, but they also surpassed the highest percentage of students in the District scoring proficient or advanced in the past five years.
“ECS is striving to increase the level of rigor and academic expectations across all subjects and grade levels, while at the same time improve student achievement scores and align District and State academic standards,” states Heather Eberts, ECS Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment. “We are extremely proud of the CSAP scores this year and will continue to work towards our goal of achieving uncommon results for students.”
While there was stellar improvement in writing scores, this portion of the CSAP showed the District that there is some work to be done in the area of writing. Five out of the eight grades tested improved their scores from last year and exceeded or met state averages this year. BCES, ECCA, JCES, RHES, RSES and EVHS students improved their writing scores at every grade level this year. Third, 4th and 5th grade students at BCES shined on the writing portion of the CSAP, scoring 78, 86 and 77 percent proficient or advanced. Following closely behind were RSES students, whose 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students scored 71, 69 and 77 percent. Biggest improvement awards go to JCES 5th grade students, who improved their scores by 28 percent this year, and EVES 3rd graders, who catapulted their scores forward 25 percent.
English-Proficient 7th graders at BCMS scored the highest in their category at 92 percent this year, followed closely by 88 percent at both EVMS and GCMS. Tenth grade English-Proficient students at BMHS improved their scores from 64 percent last year to 75 percent this year, while EVHS also showed an improvement, raising their score from 63 percent last year to 69 percent this year.
The science portion of the CSAP test is administered to 5th, 8th and 10th grade students. Fifth and 8th grade students displayed the highest scores this year in five years of ECS history. Six out of the nine elementary schools improved their scores from last year; EES boasted an 18 percent increase, while BCES claimed an increase of 13 percent. VSSA, GCMS and EVMS 8th graders all boasted stellar improvement scores at 79, 76 and 70 percent proficient or advanced.
ECS holds extremely high standards for each and every one of the students in the District and staff will continue to strive for ways of improving curriculum, instruction and assessment. The CSAP test results are very informative in allowing ECS the opportunity to explore the strengths and challenges that exist in the District today. ECS is proud of the continued success of students and staff, however improvement is a must. We will not be satisfied until every child meets the Board of Education’s goal of: Students are inspired and able to reach their individual potential, will acquire a passion for life-long learning, the desire to succeed, and the ability to participate and contribute, both locally and globally, as a competitive and responsible citizen and community member.