Estes Park School District R-3 is reporting encouraging signs of academic progress following the release of statewide assessment results earlier this month.
According to state and federal law, all Colorado districts administer the Colorado Measures of Academic Success and Scholastic Assessment Test or Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test each spring. These tests measure student progress against the Colorado Academic Standards in English language arts, math, and science. Multilingual learners also take the ACCESS for English Language Learners assessment, which tracks their English acquisition and growth.
On Aug. 21, the Colorado Department of Education released the 2025 results from assessments taken in April. Students in grades 3 through 8 sat for the CMAS in ELA and math, while students in grades 5, 8, and 11 were tested in science. High school students in grades 9 and 10 took the PSAT, and eleventh-graders completed the SAT.
Gains Across Multiple Subjects
At the Aug. 25 School Board Meeting, Superintendent Ruby Bode noted that results have shown improvement for the second consecutive year. “The most significant academic gains are in the area of math and science in grade levels 3-8, English language acquisition in grades 6-12, and in English language arts in grades 9-11,” Bode said. She added that the results also mirror district-level assessments administered at the end of the school year, further reinforcing the district’s progress.
Overall, student participation also rose. In 2025, 94.6% of Estes Park students completed state assessments, up from 90.4% in 2024. While Colorado law allows parents to opt their children out of testing, the district reported the highest participation rate in several years.
Achievement levels improved in every CMAS subject for grades 3 through 8 compared to 2024. The most significant gains came in the percentage of fifth and eighth-graders meeting or exceeding expectations, which surpassed state averages. Other areas where EPSD outperformed the state included fifth-grade math, sixth-grade ELA, eighth-grade math, and eighth-grade ELA.
At the high school level, students demonstrated year-over-year improvement in ELA on both the PSAT and SAT. Math scores, however, showed no marked increase compared to last year.
Growth vs. Achievement
District leaders emphasized that achievement scores capture student performance at a single point and do not fully reflect academic growth. Growth measures, by contrast, track progress from year to year.
EPSD students demonstrated strong growth in several areas. On the CMAS math assessment, students in grades 3-8 achieved a median growth percentile (MGP) of 57, surpassing the state median of 50. English language learners also outpaced the state with a 54 MGP on the ACCESS assessment. Growth in ELA was more modest, with grades 3-8 posting a 49 MGP, just below the state median.
High school students showed similar trends. In Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, Estes Park students earned a 51.5 MGP on the PSAT and SAT, exceeding the state median. Math growth was weaker, with a 41 MGP, falling below the statewide benchmark.
Bode expressed optimism about the district’s trajectory. “We have been on a clear strategic journey to improve our schools, and we are seeing results,” she said. “I am proud of our students and staff, and am confident in our direction for the future.”
The Colorado Department of Education will use achievement and growth data to determine accreditation ratings for districts and schools. Ratings are expected to be released in September.
Fall School Board Elections
At the same time, district leadership will soon shift its attention toward governance as the community prepares for the upcoming school board election. Three seats currently held by Stacy Ferree, Ava Kendall, and John Davis will be up for election in November. All three members have served since 2021, when a particularly contentious campaign season brought heightened attention to school board races across Colorado.
Application papers to run for office in the school board race needed to be filed Friday, Aug. 29. At this time, it has not been made public which current board members may have filed to run again or if there are any challengers. If there are three or fewer candidates, the election will be considered uncontested, and the candidates who have filed to run will be appointed through the process known as “elected by acclamation.”
The Estes Park School Board meets regularly and encourages community participation. The district’s website provides more information about upcoming meetings, board agendas, and election procedures. The next meeting of the Estes Park School Board is set for Sept. 25 at 5:15 p.m. in the Town Hall boardroom. Meetings are open to the public.