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The total number of students enrolled in all three Larimer County school districts during the 2010-2011 school year was 43,392 (Park - 1,159, Poudre - 26,923 and Thompson - 15,310). Enrollment in the Poudre School District increased by 10.3% between the 2001-2002 and 2010-2011 school years, while Thompson School District increased by 3.4%. Park School District enrollment decreased by 16.8% over this same decade, a loss of 234 students. (Source: COMPASS of Larimer County – based on information from the Colorado Department of Education)
During the 2010-2011 school year, 77% of students in Larimer County schools were White (non-Hispanic), 18% were Hispanic and the remaining 5% were Asian, American Indian and African American. During the 2010-2011 school year, Larimer County school district enrollment was largely White (non-Hispanic). Nevertheless, the percentage of White (non-Hispanic) enrollment has decreased in the Poudre and Thompson School Districts since 2001-2002; Hispanic students were the largest and fastest growing minority in Larimer County. Hispanic enrollment increased by 58.7% between the 2001-2002 and 2010-2011 school years, while overall, Larimer County enrollment increased by only 6.8%. (Source: COMPASS of Larimer County – based on information from the Colorado Department of Education)
(Source: Colorado Department of Education) Prior to 2008, the CDE rated school performance based on standardized test performance. Based on CSAP and COACT results, each school in the state received a rating of “Excellent,” “High,” “Average,” “Low” or “Unsatisfactory” for student academic performance. Using 2007-2008 data, Figures 1-3 below display the percentage of schools in Larimer County's three school districts (Poudre, Thompson, Park) that fall into each rating category districts at each grade level (Fig. 1 Elementary, Fig. 2 Middle School and Fig 3. High School). No school in Larimer County received an unsatisfactory rating. (Note: alternative and charter schools are not included in these graphs).
As of 2008, the CDE instead measures performance based on assessment data (standardized state CSAP test performance including the Colorado Growth Model), accountability data (district Adequate Yearly Progress results as defined by the Federal No Child Left Behind Act), and post-secondary readiness data (graduation rates and Colorado ACT - or COACT - college entrance exam results). Assessment CSAP tests are used in grades 3-10 to assess students in reading, writing and math; science is assessed in grades 5, 8 and 10. Alternate versions of the CSAP are available in Spanish and also for students with cognitive disabilities. CSAP results are scored using the following ratings: Advanced (student is above the standards), Proficient (student is meeting the standards), Partially Proficient (student is starting to demonstrate knowledge of the standards), Unsatisfactory (student is unable to demonstrate the content standards) and No Score (student did not complete the test). The Colorado Growth Model data is determined from CSAP results and demonstrates growth rates, meaning how students and schools progress over time regarding state standards. This growth model determines whether students are growing at a sufficient rate to “catch up” (rated Unsatisfactory or Partially Proficient), “keep up” (rated Proficient or Advanced) or “move up” (rated Proficient) through achievement levels. Districts or schools with median growth percentages less than 50 (the Colorado state median growth percentile) are growing at a rate slower than the state; median percentiles greater than 50 are growing at a faster rate. 2010 Colorado Growth Model Results by District
(Source: Colorado Department of Education)
(Source: Colorado Department of Education)
(Source: Colorado Department of Education) Accountability Districts are held accountable for student and school performance by Colorado state accreditation key performance indicators, including student longitudinal growth, student achievement level, closing growth and achievement gaps, postsecondary and workforce readiness, and compliance with state laws. All Larimer County school districts received 2009 accreditation. Districts also are held accountable through Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), the accountability measure for the Federal No Child Left Behind Act.
Larimer County Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) 2008-2009 Summary Data
(Source: Colorado Department of Education) Post-Secondary Readiness Student preparedness for opportunities beyond high school is assessed using Colorado ACT (COACT) college entrance exam scores and the prior year graduation rate. ACT scores range from 1-36 with 36 being the highest score possible. Post-Secondary Readiness Data
(Source: Colorado Department of Education)
Graduation rates for teen mothers are substantially lower than their nonpregnant counterparts. Not graduating from high school greatly affects any teen’s future financial and health stability (see Snapshot Dropout Rates). In order to encourage teen mothers in Larimer County to graduate or receive their GED, teen parent programs have been established in all three school districts. These programs provide academics required for graduation as well as classes in pregnancy, child development and parenting.
The Poudre School District Teen Parent Program (located at Fort Collins High School) reports the following for Fall 2008-Fall 2010:
The age range for participants varies and it is difficult to track participants once they have left the program, especially when older. However, younger participants are frequently on-track to graduate on-time. (Source: Fort Collins High School, Melissa Schaefer, meschaef@psdschools.org, 970-488-8220) Park School District had too few teen mothers to report. (Source: Estes Park High School, Karen Glassman, karen_glassman@psdr3.k12.co.us, 970-586-2361 x3006)
Teen Parent Program To encourage teen mothers in Larimer County to graduate or receive their GED, teen parent programs have been established in all three school districts. These programs provide academics required for graduation as well as classes in pregnancy, child development and parenting. Contact: Poudre School District - Fort Collins High School, Melissa Schaefer, meschaef@psdschools.org, 970-488-8220; Thompson School District - Ferguson High School, Diane Breslin, 970-613-5325
Based on calculations made by COMPASS of Larimer County, for the 2008-2009 school year, nearly 39% of dropouts in the county were Hispanic students, while Hispanic students constituted 16% of the total student population. (Source: COMPASS of Larimer County - based on information from the Colorado Department of Education) Dropping out of high school detrimentally affects students, their future and the nation in several ways. Primarily, dropouts realize less pay for work, suffer higher unemployment rates, have a greater chance of being incarcerated and contribute to economic losses (chiefly through lost tax revenue). Compared to high school graduates, high school dropouts earn less income in the work force. In 2009, the overall earnings for high school graduates (or equivalent) were higher than dropouts by 34.6%, 42.6% and 27.3% in the United States, Colorado and Larimer County, respectively. As expected, earnings increase as level of education increases.
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2009)
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2009)
A 2007 report from the Alliance for Excellent Education states that increasing the number of high school graduates significantly decreases crime due to the fact that over 50% of the state prison population consists of high school dropouts (although dropouts make up less than 20% of the nation’s overall population). Further, the Alliance for Excellent Education suggests that increasing the high school graduation rate and college matriculation of male students alone by just 5% could lead to combined savings and revenue of almost $8 billion each year due to reduced crime-related costs in the United States.Regarding economic loss, dropouts from the class of 2010 alone will cost the nation more than $337 billion in lost wages over the course of their lifetimes. (Source: Alliance for Excellent Education)
(Source: Colorado Department of Education)
(Source: Colorado Department of Education)
Colorado Department of Education data show a profile of teachers and students for the 2009-2010 school year by race and ethnicity. The majority of teachers in Larimer County and each of its school districts are White/Caucasian. While the majority of the student population in Larimer County also is White/Caucasian, it is more diverse. Thus, there is some disparity in the diversity of teachers as compared to the diversity of students. During this 2009-2010 school year, the student to teacher ratio in Poudre School District is 22.3, in Thompson School District is 21.9 and in Park School District is 16.7. Profile of Teachers and Students by Race and Ethnicity in Larimer County Schools-
(Source: Colorado Department of Education) Through theNational School Lunch Program, school districts receive federal assistance to provide reduced-cost or free meals to eligible students. Eligibility is based on family income. For the 2011-2012 school year, students from a family of four with an annual household income of $41,348 or less qualified for reduced-cost meals; students from a family of four with an annual household income of $29,055 or less qualified for free meals. From the 2009-2010 school year to the 2010-2011 school year, the number of K-12 students eligible for free and reduced cost mealsdecreased in Poudre, Park, and Thompson School Districts. Poudre School District has a large variation in the percentage of students eligible for the free and reduced lunch program among its schools, with some schools in 2009-2010 having fewer than 3% of the students eligible and others as high as 81%.There is a negative correlation between the percent of a school’s population that is eligible for free/reduced lunch and its overall performance rating. This means that schools with lower performance ratings have a higher percentage of free/reduced lunch eligible students thanthose schools with higher performance ratings.
(Source: Colorado Department of Education)
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Healthier Communities Coalition of Larimer County
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