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EAGLE COUNTY, Colorado — Third graders made significant improvements on district-wide reading scores on the Colorado Student Assessment Program, known as CSAP, which were released Thursday.
While the scores still indicate an achievement gap in Eagle County between students who grew up speaking English and those who grew up speaking Spanish, the district, as a whole, did better than last year.
Avon Elementary made the biggest improvements. Last year, only 21 percent of the students scored “proficient” or “advanced” on CSAP reading. This year —55 percent made the grade, a 34-point improvement.
This is especially significant because only 14 percent of the students at Avon Elementary are fluent in English — the lowest in the district. Principal Melisa Rewold-Thuon said the entire school has worked extra hard on reading this past year.
Everyday, all the teachers, aids and specialists spend an hour teaching reading skills, and teachers are focusing more on giving students individual attention and customizing lessons to match their abilities.
“They did really well — we want to keep the momentum going and keep them growing,” Rewold-Thuon said. “We’re all really excited.”
Edwards Elementary made a similar improvement, moving from 45 percent of the students scoring proficient or advanced to 55 percent. Edwards Elementary also has a low percentage of students who are fluent in English.
Six out of nine elementary schools made improvements. Brush Creek Elementary had the highest scores in the district, with 92 percent of its third graders scoring proficient or advanced.
Overall, 68 percent of third graders in the district scored proficient or advanced, which is five points higher than last year but two points lower than the state average.
Eagle County though has much larger percentage of students who know little or more English compared to the state, according to a school district press release. Here 33 percent of third graders know little or know English, while statewide, the average is 12 percent.
If you’re just looking at Eagle County third graders who are fluent in English, 81 percent scored proficient or advanced, which beats the school district’s goal.
“All in all, we are pleased with the results,” said superintendent John Pacheco. “With CSAP testing beginning in third grade, this is our first look at how this particular group of students performs.
“With more Spanish-speaking students attaining fluent English proficiency each year and incredible programs in place at our schools, the future looks extremely bright.”
While the scores still indicate an achievement gap in Eagle County between students who grew up speaking English and those who grew up speaking Spanish, the district, as a whole, did better than last year.
Avon Elementary made the biggest improvements. Last year, only 21 percent of the students scored “proficient” or “advanced” on CSAP reading. This year —55 percent made the grade, a 34-point improvement.
This is especially significant because only 14 percent of the students at Avon Elementary are fluent in English — the lowest in the district. Principal Melisa Rewold-Thuon said the entire school has worked extra hard on reading this past year.
Everyday, all the teachers, aids and specialists spend an hour teaching reading skills, and teachers are focusing more on giving students individual attention and customizing lessons to match their abilities.
“They did really well — we want to keep the momentum going and keep them growing,” Rewold-Thuon said. “We’re all really excited.”
Edwards Elementary made a similar improvement, moving from 45 percent of the students scoring proficient or advanced to 55 percent. Edwards Elementary also has a low percentage of students who are fluent in English.
Six out of nine elementary schools made improvements. Brush Creek Elementary had the highest scores in the district, with 92 percent of its third graders scoring proficient or advanced.
Overall, 68 percent of third graders in the district scored proficient or advanced, which is five points higher than last year but two points lower than the state average.
Eagle County though has much larger percentage of students who know little or more English compared to the state, according to a school district press release. Here 33 percent of third graders know little or know English, while statewide, the average is 12 percent.
If you’re just looking at Eagle County third graders who are fluent in English, 81 percent scored proficient or advanced, which beats the school district’s goal.
“All in all, we are pleased with the results,” said superintendent John Pacheco. “With CSAP testing beginning in third grade, this is our first look at how this particular group of students performs.
“With more Spanish-speaking students attaining fluent English proficiency each year and incredible programs in place at our schools, the future looks extremely bright.”
2008 Third Grade Reading CSAP Scores
Brush Creek ElementaryStudents who scored proficient/advanced: 92%
English-speaking students: 86%
Eagle County Charter Academy
Students who scored proficient/advanced: 88%
English-speaking students: 100%
Red Sandstone Elementary
Students who scored proficient/advanced: 68%
English-speaking students: 77%
Red Hill Elementary
Students who scored proficient/advanced: 63%
English-speaking students: 70%
Eagle Valley Elementary
Students who scored proficient/advanced: 76%
English-speaking students: 56%
Gypsum Elementary
Students who scored proficient/advanced: 52%
English-speaking students: 48%
Meadow Mountain Elementary
Students who scored proficient/advanced: 63%
English-speaking students: 42%
Edwards Elementary
Students who scored proficient/advanced: 55%
English-speaking students/advanced: 38%
Avon Elementary
Students who scored proficient/advanced: 55%
English-speaking students: 14%
Staff Writer Matt Terrell can be reached at 970-748-2955 or mterrell@vaildaily.com.
