The three in-town elementary schools received an F.
Using Colorado Department of Education statistics, Colorado School Grades recently released a report unveiling letter grades it had awarded to every public school in the state. The report was presented by a coalition of 18 nonprofit community organizations dedicated to ensuring children receive access to high-performing schools.
In an hourlong interview with The Cortez Journal last week, Re-1 Superintendent Alex Carter initially dismissed the report, saying it was an attempt by charter school advocates to smear public schools. Carter added that the letter grades didn’t reflect the hard work of the district’s teachers and administrators.
The report did not give grades for effort.
“This report is incredibly misleading,” he said.
Later in the interview, Carter backtracked, agreeing with report findings that ranked the Cortez Middle School as the top academic environment for sixth- , seventh-, and eighth-graders in the county when examining academic growth.
The report gave the middle school a C grade and ranked it 303rd out of 505 middle schools.
“The Cortez Middle School is not an average school,” said Carter. “It’s a great school.”
Carter said it was heartbreaking that the district’s three in-town elementaries schools each received an F, and he wasn’t satisfied that the Montezuma-Cortez High School received a D+.
“Wait until next year,” said Carter, predicting the district’s graduation rate would top 80 percent.
Ranked 297th out of 345 public high schools in Colorado, M-CHS failed last year to prepare graduates for college readiness in reading, math and science, according to the Colorado School Grade report. Dolores and Mancos high schools both received C+ grades, and were ranked 137th and 139th out of 345, respectively.
Of the 1,101 elementary schools across the state, Manaugh ranked 1,001st. Under academic proficiency and academic growth, the school received F grades across the board. Kemper ranked 982nd across the state’s elementary schools, garnering a D+ in overall academic proficiency and an F under academic growth. Mesa, ranked 960th, fared slightly better, receiving a D+ in academic proficiency and a D in academic growth.
In addition to Cortez Middle School, Lewis-Arriola Elementary School and Battle Rock Charter School also received average grades. Lewis-Arriola received a C and ranked 728th out of 1,101, and Battle Rock Charter School received a C- and ranked 837th out of 1,101.
Dolores Middle School ranked 447th, and Mancos Middle School ranked 331st. Overall, Dolores and Mancos middle schools received a D and C, respectively.
Colorado School Grades worked with the Center for Education Policy Analysis at the University of Colorado at Denver and R-Squared Research to calculate the grades, using statewide test score data as well as the same variables and weights as the Colorado Department of Education’s School Performance Framework.
Under the state accountability framework, severely underperforming districts have five years to show substantial improvement or face state takeover. The Montezuma-Cortez Re-1 School District is in year five of turnaround or priority improvement, and has the state’s lowest accreditation level.
Addressing the overall report, Carter said that academic success or failure was directly tied to the community’s socioeconomic status. He reiterated that additional community support was necessary to hurdle the ills of poverty and reach higher educational pursuits.
“Schools with F grades are always in the poorest communities,” said Carter.
Carter said the district could benefit from additional funding. He anticipates presenting an official tax hike proposal to voters next spring.
“It’s not going to be easy,” Carter said about gaining support for a tax.
To examine and compare the letter grade report by school, district, address, ZIP Code or city, visit www.coloradoschoolgrades.com.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com