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News release - CDE recognizes Centers of Excellence Schools, Districts Accredited with Distinction and other award winners

March 1, 2018

CDE recognizes Centers of Excellence Schools, Districts Accredited with Distinction and other award winners

DENVER - The Colorado Department of Education celebrated the 2017 district and school performance results in an awards ceremony today at the Denver Art Museum. Colorado Education Commissioner Dr. Katy Anthes honored schools and districts that earned acclaim in eight award categories.

The event recognized 54 schools with the Centers of Excellence award that demonstrated the highest sustained rates of student longitudinal growth as measured by the Colorado Growth Model among those that have at least 75 percent at-risk students.
 
The event also recognized recipients of the Districts Accredited with Distinction Award, Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award, U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School, High School Academic Growth Award, John Irwin School of Excellence, National Blue Ribbon Schools and Title I Distinguished School Award.
 
Here are descriptions of seven of the award categories:
 
The Districts Accredited with Distinction awards districts that have earned 80 percent or more of possible points on the District Performance Frameworks. The District Performance Frameworks measure student performance in academic achievement, academic growth, academic growth gaps and post-secondary and workforce readiness under the state’s accountability system. In 2017, 30 districts earned this award.
 
The Governor’s Distinguished Improvement awards are given to schools that demonstrate excellent student growth. On the School Performance Framework used by the state to evaluate schools, these schools “exceed” expectations on the indicator related to longitudinal academic growth over three years. In 2017, 127 schools earned this award.
 
The U.S Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools honors America’s public and private elementary, middle and high schools for their efforts toward improving student health and achievement and reducing their environmental impact. A Green Ribbon Schools award represents a healthy and sustainable school or district, recognized by parents, students, staff and governments at federal, state and local levels as an exemplary model of achievement in sustainability, health and environmental education. In 2017, Sedalia Elementary School in Douglas County School District received this award.
 
The High School Academic Growth Awards recognize high schools that demonstrate the highest levels of student academic growth in reading, writing and math, within each classification used by the statewide association for high school activities for the sport of football. In 2017, eight schools demonstrated the highest rate of student longitudinal growth.
 
The John Irwin awards are given to schools that demonstrate excellent academic achievement. On the School Performance Framework, these schools “exceed” expectations on the indicator for academic achievement over three years. In 2017, 178 schools earned this award.
 
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle and high schools based on overall academic excellence or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. In 2017, five schools earned this award.
 
The Title I Distinguished School Award recognized Eads Elementary School, in Kiowa County School District RE-1, for the second year for achieving academic success and Summit Elementary School, in Woodland Park School District RE-2, for making progress in closing achievement gaps associated with race and poverty.