Today, the Colorado Department of Education released statewide, district and school level results of the 2016 Science Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) test. Colorado 5th, 8th and 11th graders took the test last spring. Performance is broken into five levels and indicate what a typical student at each level should know based on their command of grade-level state science standards:

• Level 5:  Exceeded expectations
• Level 4:  Met expectations
• Level 3:  Approached expectations
• Level 2:  Partially met expectations
• Level 1:  Did not yet meet expectations

Students scoring in levels 4 and 5 are considered on track for “college and career readiness.”  Students scoring in levels 1, 2 and 3 “may need additional support to be on track for college and career readiness.”

Littleton Public Schools students continue to perform well on the science assessment:

• LPS 5th graders in nine of 15 elementary schools improved scores over last year.  LPS 5th graders’ scores outpaced the state average “meets or exceeds” by 21 percentage points.  This is the third straight year LPS 5th graders have exceeded the state average in these top categories by at least 20 percentage points or more.  
• LPS 8th graders outpaced the state average by double digits in the “meets or exceeds” levels for the third straight year and by 23 percentage points this year.
• LPS 11th graders outpaced the state average by 18 percentage points in the “meets or exceeds” levels.  

The Colorado Department of Education also released today statewide, district and school level results of the 2016 ACT and PSAT 10.  All Colorado 11th graders took the ACT. LPS students continue to perform well on the ACT, scoring significantly above the state average in all subject areas tested. District scores held steady or decreased less than a point in all areas.  It’s important to note that the ACT will be replaced by the College Board SAT as the state assessment for all 11th graders beginning in the spring of 2017.

Beginning in the spring of 2016, all Colorado 10th graders took the PSAT 10 exam instead of the English language arts and math CMAS tests. This change in test administration was required in House Bill 15-1323, which mandates that Colorado 10th graders take an assessment aligned to both the Colorado Academic Standards and the college readiness assessment given to 11th graders. A state task force chose the College Board PSAT 10 as the new assessment. PSAT 10 scores show “college readiness benchmarks” that predict if a student would earn a grade of C or better in a college credit-bearing algebra or English course.  LPS students performed well on the PSAT 10:

• 62% of LPS 10th graders met both the English and math benchmarks compared to 40% statewide and 38% nationally.
• 84% of LPS 10th graders met the reading/writing benchmark.
• 64% of LPS 10th graders met the mathematics benchmark.

It’s important to note that this was the first time all Colorado 10th graders took the PSAT 10.  These scores serve as baseline scores for all school districts as well as the state.

“Colorado’s standards and this next generation of assessments are challenging for all school districts, and we are so proud of our students and our teachers for the outstanding work they continue to do,” said LPS Deputy Superintendent Connie Bouwman.  “Their continued commitment to excellence is second to none.”

“These scores are impressive by any measure. It takes the commitment of students, teachers, parents, and the larger community to help students achieve their individual best,” said LPS Superintendent Brian Ewert.  “This confirms what we already know about our students --individually, in subgroups and overall. We know when students struggle and we know when they excel. Furthermore, within the framework of Professional Learning Communities, teachers have the opportunity to share their best thinking, improve their teaching, and to address the individual needs of every student.  This collaboration makes it possible for teachers to truly help students improve where they need it most.”

Colorado CMAS English language arts and mathematics results are expected to be released by the Colorado Department of Education September 1, 2016.