BOULDER — Today, the Colorado Department of Education released the 2026 state assessment results, and once again Boulder Valley School District students demonstrated high levels of achievement, along with significant gains in several key areas.
The results from the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS), PSAT and SAT show that overall achievement remained strong and steady from the previous school year, while students made important progress in several areas that have been a focus of BVSD's All Together for All Students Strategic Plan, including middle school math and high school student growth.
“We are incredibly proud of our students and educators,” said BVSD Superintendent Dr. Rob Anderson. “When you are already performing at a very high level, maintaining that excellence is an accomplishment. What is especially encouraging is that we continue to see meaningful growth in areas where we have been intentionally focused — including middle school math and among some of the student groups we are working hardest to support.”
Across CMAS, PSAT and SAT, 72.2% of BVSD students met or exceeded expectations in English Language Arts/Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ELA/EBRW), compared with 72.7% last year. In math, the percentage increased from 57.0% to 57.8%.
On CMAS specifically, 65.3% of BVSD students met or exceeded expectations in English Language Arts and 56.1% met or exceeded expectations in math.
Middle school math continues to improve
One of the brightest spots in this year's results was middle school math, where BVSD achieved a statistically significant 2.9 percentage-point increase, with even larger gains among Hispanic/Latino students (+4.5 points) and Multilingual Learner (MLL) students (+4.6 points).
The results build upon BVSD's multi-year focus on improving math instruction and ensuring that students have a strong mathematical foundation before entering high school.
“This is exactly the kind of progress we want to see,” said BVSD Deputy Superintendent Dr. Nativity Miller. “We’ve seen significant growth at the middle level over the past few years. That didn't happen by accident, school leaders have been focused with intentional implementation of our strategic plan and as a district we have focused on providing high quality curricular materials. Additionally, our strategic plan has helped us use data to identify where students need additional support as well as extension. We continue to focus our efforts in the right areas and measure what is working. These results show that the hard work of our teachers and school leaders is making a difference for students.”
BVSD high school students continue to demonstrate strong growth
Achievement tells only part of the story. BVSD also closely examines student growth, which measures how much academic progress students make from one year to the next compared with academically similar students across Colorado.
A Median Growth Percentile (MGP) of 50 represents typical growth in Colorado.
BVSD high school students exceeded that benchmark in both subjects, posting an MGP of 57 in EBRW and 60 in math. In other words, BVSD high school students aren't simply achieving at high levels — they are continuing to make more academic progress than their peers across the state.
The results were particularly encouraging among several student groups. In high school math, BVSD Multilingual Learners posted an MGP 13 points higher than Multilingual Learners statewide. Students with Individualized Education Programs outpaced their statewide peers by 9 points, while Hispanic/Latino students outpaced their statewide peers by 7 points.
Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch also showed encouraging growth, with an MGP of 49 in EBRW and 55 in math.
Elementary reading remains strong
BVSD also saw improvement in elementary reading, with proficiency increasing 1.2 percentage points this year.
The improvement continues a steady, multi-year trajectory in elementary literacy — another area of sustained focus under the district's strategic plan.
Across grade levels, BVSD students also continued to demonstrate above-typical academic growth on CMAS, with an overall MGP of 54 in English Language Arts and 53.5 in math, both above the state median of 50.
Excellence and equity remain the goal
Strong results don't mean the work is finished. While BVSD continues to outperform state averages overall, persistent achievement gaps remain for some historically underserved students, including Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino and Multilingual Learner students, as well as students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
“We can celebrate the tremendous achievement happening across BVSD while also being clear-eyed about where we still have work to do,” Anderson said. “Our goal isn't simply to be one of the highest-performing school districts in Colorado. Our goal is to ensure that every student has the opportunity, support and instruction they need to succeed.”
Closing these gaps remains a central focus of BVSD's Unified Improvement Plan, including strengthening Tier 1 instruction for all students and providing targeted Tier 2 support when students need additional help.
“Our educators have demonstrated again and again that when we identify a challenge, focus our efforts and work together, we can move the needle,” Miller said. “That is what gives me confidence about where we're headed. We are going to continue learning from the data, investing in what works and ensuring that every student in BVSD has the opportunity to thrive.”