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Central High School aims to recover from priority‑improvement rating by boosting test participation
Summary
Central High School received a state 'priority improvement' designation because it fell short of the 95% accountability participation threshold despite academic scores near performance level; administrators outlined outreach, makeup testing and classroom supports to reduce parent excusals and raise participation.
District leaders told the board that Central High School’s recent state accountability rating was driven primarily by test‑participation shortfalls rather than academic achievement.
Ari Goldberg, director of secondary site leadership, said the Colorado accountability system includes a 95% accountability participation threshold; Principal Hayward reported Central’s overall participation in the testing window last year was about 69.4%, compared with roughly 87.4% at the district’s other three high schools. Hayward said about 59 students who were eligible did not test and did not return parent excusal forms.
“We want to get that parent excuser rate down to less than 10%,” Hayward said, describing plans to contact families associated with more than 200 parent‑refusal forms, provide structured makeup‑testing windows, and use counseling and administrative supports to improve baseline classroom practices that prepare students for tests. He tied higher participation to post‑secondary opportunities that rely on test scores.
Why it matters: The participation requirement can alter a school’s overall rating even when academic measures are strong—Central was academically in the improvement category and missed a performance rating by 0.2 percentage points, but the participation shortfall lowered its official rating to priority improvement. Administrators framed the work as both compliance and an opportunity to better understand learning needs through reliable baseline data.
Planned actions include targeted outreach to families, homework and instruction adjustments to build test readiness, coordinated makeup‑testing schedules, and use of district Strive teams to establish common classroom practices. Board members asked how families lacking phone access or facing homelessness would be reached; district staff said the district has printed opt‑out forms, can make home visits and will work to ensure participation without breaching family privacy.
Board members praised the new Central administration for visible leadership and early improvements in school culture. District leaders said they expect to continue supporting the school’s improvement work and aim for higher participation and, ultimately, to move Central off the state improvement clock.
What’s next: Central plans outreach and makeup testing in the near term; the district will monitor participation and academic indicators and report back on progress.
