GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Colorado students have excelled in national assessments, ranking above the national average in math and reading, but their performance has yet to fully recover from pre-pandemic levels. New data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), managed by the U.S. Department of Education, sheds light on both progress and lingering challenges.
Colorado’s NAEP Scores Show Strength and Gaps
The NAEP, often referred to as the ‘nation’s report card,’ tests fourth and eighth-grade students across the country. Colorado’s fourth and eighth-grade reading scores have remained stable since 2022 but continue to lag behind pre-pandemic performance.
According to the Colorado Department of Education, “Colorado continues to outperform the national public average, with a higher percentage of students meeting or exceeding the NAEP Basic and Proficient levels in reading for both grades.”
Math scores tell a more varied story. Fourth-grade math performance has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, matching the national average. Meanwhile, eighth-grade math scores remain below the state’s 2019 results, but still outpaced the national public average.
Officials Highlight Student Progress and Areas for Improvement
“Colorado students and teachers have worked hard, and we’re proud our students are outperforming the national average,” said Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Córdova.
Córdova acknowledged the challenges that remain, particularly for students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and those from underserved communities. “Today’s fourth and eighth graders have overcome pandemic challenges, but learning gaps remain for some groups. We must keep working to close these gaps so all students can succeed.”
State-Level CMAS Results Provide Additional Insights
The Colorado Department of Education also released results from the spring 2024 administration of the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS). The findings highlight steady improvements in multiple grade levels:
- Every grade except eighth saw a higher percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations on CMAS math compared to 2023.
- Third through sixth-grade students performed as well or better in CMAS math than in 2019.
- The overall state median growth percentile (MGP) is near pre-pandemic levels for CMAS English language arts (49th percentile) and has surpassed pre-pandemic levels for math (53rd percentile).
However, there were some declines, particularly in English language arts:
- Fourth-grade students saw the largest drop in CMAS English language arts, with a 1.8% decline from 2023 and a 6% drop from 2019.
- Despite this, third, sixth, seventh, and eighth graders posted slight improvements in CMAS English language arts compared to 2023.
Science Scores and Looking Ahead
CMAS science scores also showed positive trends, with students in every grade meeting or exceeding expectations compared to 2023. Notably, fifth-grade students improved by four percentage points.
As Colorado students continue their academic recovery, education officials remain focused on addressing disparities and building on the gains made since the pandemic. The latest data underscores both resilience and the need for continued investment in student success.
