Jeffco students are inching closer to pre-pandemic proficiency rates in math and reading, according to the latest results of the Colorado Measures of Academic Success.

More students met or exceeded expectations in English Language Arts and math than in 2022, but scores remained lower than in 2019.

Just over half of Jeffco’s third through eighth graders who took the test met or exceeded grade-level expectations on the English Language Arts portion, beating the state average of 43.7%. At 38.7%, math proficiency rates also exceeded the state average of 32.9% and showed a 1.3% improvement over 2022.

While the district average hasn’t reached the ELA and math proficiency rates it saw in 2019, there are some bright spots. More Jeffco fifth graders, who were in second grade at the height of the learning disruptions, are on grade level in reading than four years ago. Also, more third- fourth-, and fifth-graders met or exceeded math expectations this year than in 2019.

“Like other areas in Colorado and the U.S., Jeffco students faced learning challenges due to the compounding impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said the district in a press release. “However, Jeffco students, including specific groups like English Language Learners and those with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), are steadily returning to their pre-pandemic achievement levels.”

The district acknowledged that there’s more work to do and that some groups face academic challenges. While 58% of White students met or exceeded ELA expectations and 46.4% did so in math, only 30.3% of Black and 29.1% of Hispanic students achieved the same level in English and 13.1% and 17.3% in math, respectively. 

Among economically disadvantaged students, 25% of those who qualify for free or reduced lunch met or exceeded expectations in English and 14% in math. Ninety percent of students with an IEP, a plan meant to help students with learning challenges achieve at the same academic level as their peers, aren’t on grade level for reading, and 91% aren’t for math.

English language learners struggle the most, with only 8.2% meeting or exceeding expectations in English and 3.1% in math.

The district said its strategic plan “aims to boost learning for all students, focusing on strengthening reading skills for younger students and math skills for older ones, ensuring all students are prepared for life after graduation.

Compared to other metro-area districts, a higher percentage of Jeffco students met grade-level standards in English than Denver and Cherry Creek school districts and in math than Denver. Jeffco is the second-largest school district in the state, serving more than 65,000 students across 140 schools.