CONEJOS COUNTY– The Colorado Department of Education and Education Commissioner Katy Anthes and members of the State Board of Education honored hundreds of schools and dozens of districts with 2018 performance commendations at the annual awards ceremony Wednesday in Denver.

“Today we’re celebrating the many successes taking place across Colorado’s schools and districts,” Anthes said. “Shining a light on the good work we’re seeing is the first step to learning more about what is going on in these schools so that that others can learn from their work and some day we can fully erase the equity gaps that have existed for far too long.”

Among the awards, 15 schools in 11 districts were honored with the Centers of Excellence Award that demonstrates 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. On the school performance framework that is used by the state to evaluate schools, these schools have demonstrated impressive results on the indicator relating to longitudinal academic growth. This award program was established in 2009 by the Education Accountability Act of 2009. Winning this honor from the San Luis Valley was Antonito Middle School.

The event also recognized recipients of the Districts Accredited with Distinction Award, Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award, High School Academic Growth Award, John Irwin School of Excellence, National Blue Ribbon Schools, ELPA Excellence Awards and ESEA Distinguished Schools.

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 2018, 25 districts earned this award including North Conejos RE-1J.

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 2018, 105 schools earned this award including Manassa Elementary School in the North Conejos RE-1J school district.