Poudre School District students, educators, and families have a lot to celebrate. Data presented to the Board of Education in February 2026 as part of the District Ends (DE) 1.0 Monitoring Report shows meaningful progress across nearly every measure of student success — from early childhood readiness through graduation and beyond.
The report, delivered by Dr. Dwayne Schmitz, Chief Institutional Effectiveness Officer, demonstrates that PSD's commitment to its mission of "educate every child, every day" is producing real, measurable results for students at every level.
Reading and Math Achievement: Outperforming State and National Peers
PSD students continue to outperform their state and national peers in both reading and math. The district measures this using something called an "achievement effect size" — a way of comparing how PSD students perform relative to students across the state or nation. An effect size of zero means PSD students are performing the same as their peers. A positive number means PSD students are performing better, and the higher the number, the bigger the advantage. PSD's target is an effect size of 0.25, which translates roughly to the 60th percentile — meaning the typical PSD student outperforms 60% of students nationally.
On CMAS, PSAT, and SAT assessments, PSD's reading achievement effect size reached 0.37 in 2024–25 — well above the district's target of 0.25 and steadily climbing from 0.31 just three years ago. In math, achievement has remained consistently strong at 0.30, also exceeding the target. These numbers confirm that the typical PSD student is performing well above state and national averages, a testament to the quality of instruction happening in classrooms across the district.
K–5 Literacy Gains Signal Strong Impact of District Initiatives
Perhaps one of the most encouraging trends in the report is the continued rise in K–5 reading performance. The spring achievement effect size for non-charter elementary students climbed to 0.28 in 2024–25, up from just 0.12 in 2021–22, and now exceeds the district's target of 0.25. Every grade level from kindergarten through fifth grade showed gains, with kindergarten reaching an impressive 0.47 effect size. These results reflect the strong impact of PSD's literacy initiatives and the dedication of elementary educators across the district.
Attendance Matters — And the Data Proves It
PSD attendance increased to 90.6% in 2024–25, as the statewide average declined to 91.4%. The report highlights a powerful connection between attendance and achievement: students attending school 95% of the time or more achieved math effect sizes ranging from 0.39 to 0.69 across grade levels — far exceeding the district target. Students attending below 95% still performed above state norms but fell short of PSD's ambitious goals. This data reinforces the importance of the district's continued focus on reducing chronic absenteeism and truancy, which held steady at 3.1%.
Record-Setting Graduation Rate
The Class of 2025 achieved a 4-year graduation rate of 89.0% — the highest in PSD's recorded history and well above the state average of 85.6%. When including students who complete their education on an extended timeline, PSD's completion rate reaches 91.8%.PSD’s graduation rate target is 90% for the Class of 2026 and beyond.
Student Connections Continue to Grow
Each year, PSD surveys students about how connected they feel to their school and whether they feel safe, supported by adults, listened to, and engaged in activities that match their interests. These responses are combined into a single "composite score," an overall percentage that reflects the average level of agreement across all of these areas. A higher composite score means more students feel positively connected to their school experience.
PSD's composite score has shown a steady five-year climb, reaching 85.6% in 2025, up from 83.5% in 2020. Students who report higher levels of connection to their schools also demonstrate higher attendance, stronger academic achievement, and lower discipline rates. The "Interests and Passions" subscale has been a key driver, rising from 73% to 78% over the past five years, reflecting PSD's investment in engaging students through activities, programs, and learning opportunities that matter to them.
Critically, student connections are strongly associated with graduation expectations. Among students who say they will graduate, 99% report that someone played a role in helping them explore their future. For students who are uncertain about graduating, that number drops to 86.3%, highlighting the importance of every student having a caring adult in their corner.
A State Leader in Career and College Readiness
PSD continues to lead Colorado in preparing students for life after high school. Nearly half of all 9th–12th grade students (48.6%) are now enrolled in concurrent enrollment courses — earning tuition-free college credit — up from 34.8% just two years ago. Career and Technical Education (CTE) participation has reached 51.1%, with CTE courses available at every traditional high school. PSD's dual enrollment rate of 69.4% nearly doubles the state average of 42%, and its concurrent enrollment rate of 66% far exceeds the state's 36.2%. Through work-based learning, nationally recognized credentials, and associate degree pathways, PSD students are graduating with real options for their futures.
Families See "Above and Beyond" Opportunities
In PSD's 2024–25 Family Engagement Survey, 69% of families reported that PSD has provided opportunities for all of their children to strive toward their personal "Above and Beyond," with another 17% saying the district has done so for some of their children. Additionally, 86% of families reported their children are also pursuing interests outside of school through private lessons, athletics, and community programs — a sign that PSD's emphasis on cultivating individual talents is resonating with families.
Students Receiving Additional Support Are Making Gains
Students with IEPs and English Language Learners are outpacing the growth of their academic peers in both reading and math, and many individual schools are achieving "catch-up growth" targets for students who need additional support. Elementary literacy data is especially promising: students on READ Plans have shown dramatic improvement, with effect sizes climbing from 0.20 to 0.44 over the past three years, far exceeding the overall PSD gains.
Proud of Progress, Committed to Every Child
While PSD has much to celebrate, the district is clear-eyed about the work that remains. Graduation rates for students with IEPs, English Language Learners, and students eligible for free and reduced meals, while improving in recent years, still lag behind the district average and comparison districts. Achievement gaps persist at the middle school level for students on READ Plans, and several growth targets for students receiving additional support have not yet been met. The district's Connections composite score of 85.6% continues to fall short of the 90% target.
These are areas where PSD is leaning in, not stepping back. The district's literacy focus continues with urgency. Its equity work through the Disrupting Disproportionality framework is yielding results, and its strategic priorities of literacy, mental health and belonging. And, PSD’s commitment to ensure that students graduate with options is driving decisions at every level.
PSD is proud of what our students and staff are achieving together. These results reflect the hard work of thousands of educators, the commitment of families, and most importantly, the resilience and determination of our students. But we will not rest until every child in our district exceeds our goals. Every student deserves to build strong foundations, feel connected to their school, succeed in a changing world, and reach their personal Above and Beyond — and PSD is committed to making that happen.