On Tuesday, Aug. 31, the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) released preliminary school and district accountability frameworks based on 2025-2026 data.
The annual performance frameworks are part of the state’s accountability system and are used to accredit school districts and assign school ratings based on measures including academic achievement, academic growth and, for high schools and districts, postsecondary and workforce readiness.
Archuleta School District (ASD) was deemed an accredited school district for the third straight year.
In 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, the district was accredited with improvement, then improved to an accredited rating in 2023-2024.
During the ASD Board of Education meeting held on Tuesday, Sept. 1, ASD Superintendent Rick Holt commented that “this is the first year that all of our schools have been performance schools,” meaning ASD remains a “performance district.”
He also indicated that the elementary and high school campuses received “outstanding growth performances.”
Schools can receive one of several plans, as described by the CDE’s website:
• Performance plan: Schools with a Performance Plan are meeting expectations on the majority of performance metrics.
• Improvement plan: These schools are identified as lower performing. They may be meeting expectations on some performance metrics, but they are not meeting or are only approaching expectations on many.
• Priority improvement plan: These schools are identified as low performing. They are not meeting or are only approaching expectations on most performance metrics. The state will provide support and oversight to these schools until they improve.
• Turnaround plan: These schools are identified as among the lowest performing schools in the state. They are not meeting or are only approaching expectations on most performance metrics. The state will provide support and oversight to these schools until they improve.
The performance ratings are based on assessment achievement and growth results, graduation rates, dropout rates, matriculation rates and participation rates.
According to CDE data, Pagosa Springs Elementary School’s receipt of a performance plan is a step up from the improvement plan it received the last two years.
Pagosa Springs Middle School received a performance plan for the third year, according to the data.
Pagosa Springs High School again received a performance plan, as it has the last several years.
Pagosa Peak Open School received a performance plan, up from being on an improvement plan from 2023 to 2025.
San Juan Mountain School’s determination is not currently available, with the CDE document indicating that rating is pending alternative education campus (AEC) framework.
Last year, San Juan Mountain School received a rating of AEC: improvement plan.
Statewide results
According to the CDE, this year’s results are generally in line with previous years.
“These preliminary frameworks give us an important picture of where schools and districts are making progress and where students need more support,” said Colorado Education Commissioner Dr. Susana Córdova. “It is encouraging to see that most Colorado schools are meeting or exceeding state expectations and that fewer schools are on the Accountability Clock. At the same time, we know that too many students are still attending schools that are struggling to meet their needs. Our job is to learn from what is working, strengthen instruction where it matters most and partner with local leaders to provide the support schools need so that every student has access to a high-quality education.”
The preliminary 2026-2027 ratings are available on the Performance Frameworks Results webpage at https://bit.ly/3SKspOV or the school and district dashboard at https://bit.ly/3T76x0o.
Key results of the preliminary release for 2026 (before the request to reconsider process) include:
• 55 percent of districts earned an Accredited or higher rating, the same as 2025.
• 65 percent of schools earned a performance plan type, compared to 66 percent in 2025.
• 148 schools are on “Performance Watch,” down from 176 in the 2025 preliminary frameworks. Of those, 31 improved enough to move to “On Watch” status, which puts them on a path to exit the Accountability Clock if they maintain improved performance.
The Colorado State Board of Education directs an improvement course of action for schools and districts on the Accountability Clock for five consecutive years.
The preliminary ratings will be finalized in the coming months.
School districts have until Oct. 15 to provide additional data through the “request to reconsider” process, which may result in a rating change before frameworks are presented to the Colorado Board of Education later this fall.
randi@pagosasun.com
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