District assessments administered throughout the year indicate that students made meaningful progress from fall to spring across multiple grade levels.
Among the highlights:
- K-5 literacy performance increased by 22 percentage points from the beginning to the end of the school year.
- 72% percent of students in grades K-3 finished the year at or above benchmark in literacy.
- 67% percent of students in grades K-5 finished the year at or above benchmark in literacy.
- Kindergarten students demonstrated especially strong growth, increasing 48 percentage points from the beginning of the year to the end of the year in literacy.
- 74% percent of elementary students were performing at early, mid, or above grade level in reading by the end of the year.
- 69% percent of elementary students were performing at early, mid, or above grade level in mathematics by the end of the year.
- Every elementary grade level exceeded both Colorado and national benchmarks in reading and mathematics.
- Every grade level reduced the percentage of students performing two or more years below grade level during the school year in reading and mathematics.
“These results reflect the hard work of our students, staff, and families,” said Superintendent Dr. Karen Cheser. “While no single assessment tells the whole story of student learning, these results show encouraging growth and reinforce the impact of the daily work happening in classrooms across our district.”
The district uses a variety of assessments throughout the year to monitor student progress, identify learning needs, and provide timely support. District leaders emphasize that academic growth is only one measure of student success and is considered alongside the broader goals of the district’s Portrait of a Graduate.
“Growth matters,” said Dr. Laurie Rossback, Executive Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment. “We are especially encouraged to see students making progress throughout the year and to see fewer students performing significantly below grade level. Those trends represent real gains for students and provide a strong foundation for continued success.”
2025/2026 EOY District Assessment Results & Updates was presented to the Durango School District Board of Education on June 23, 2026.