District 49 reports widespread gains in math and marks Allies Elementary in performance

Kathleen Grama, director of academic performance and data services for El Paso County Colorado School District 49, presented assessment results to the board on Aug. 27, highlighting gains in math, school‑level growth metrics and stronger participation on College Board high‑school assessments.

Grama said the district evaluates “measures that indicate the acquisition of learning,” including Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) reading and math, median student growth percentiles and the College Board PSAT/SAT results. She summarized multi‑year trends and noted the testing interruptions in 2020 and low participation in 2021 before focusing on 2023–25 changes.

Grama highlighted that “a quarter of our schools have exceeded their pre‑pandemic levels in reading. Over half of our schools have exceeded that level from 2019 in math, and nearly three quarters of our schools have exceeded that 2019 level in science.” She said half of district schools have a median student growth percentile of 50 or higher in math.

Grama singled out specific schools and leaders. She reported that Allies Elementary School stands out as “one of the spongiest, highest growth schools,” and that Principal Amy Seifel attributed outcomes to staff work and targeted interventions for students with dyslexia. Board members amplified that point: one board member said Allies’ results mean the program is working “and this is the first year that a school dedicated to serving students with dyslexia has achieved the performance level.”

Grama also praised Falcon Middle School, Ridgeview, Pikes Peak School of Expeditionary Learning and Vista Ridge for strong growth. She noted that College Board participation in the district was about 93 percent compared with about 85 percent statewide and that the district’s combined college‑level proficiency across grades 9–11 was 59 percent in reading.

Board members discussed implications for charter schools and district accountability. Director Hile pointed to consistently strong results in the district‑operated portfolio and a more uneven charter picture; Director Olivia Wright emphasized that charter contracts include expectations to match or exceed district performance and said the data should inform accountability conversations.

Students on the student board and two visiting students, Emma (Sand Creek High School) and Mariah (Patriot High School), also commented. Emma praised district progress and said the gains are meaningful for students who have struggled with dyslexia and dyscalculia. Mariah and other staff noted school practices such as data cycles, consistent curriculum use and professional learning communities as contributors to growth.

Grama closed by saying the results show evidence of “neuroplasticity” and urged continued support for teachers and principals. The board asked staff to continue monitoring trends and to bring deeper grade‑level breakdowns and intervention timelines where relevant.