DENVER—The Colorado Department of Education celebrated the 2016 district and school performance results in an awards ceremony on Wednesday at the Colorado Department of Education. Colorado Education Commissioner Katy Anthes honored schools and districts that earned acclaim in nine award categories.

The event recognized the 25 Districts Accredited with Distinction under the state’s accountability system. The event also recognized recipients of the Centers of Excellence, Governor’s Distinguished Improvement, John Irwin Schools of Excellence, High School Academic Growth, National Blue Ribbon Schools, ELPA Excellence, Title I Distinguished Schools and U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools awards.

Honored from the San Luis Valley were:

Centennial School — Centers of Excellence Award
Creede School District — Governor's Distinguished Improvement Award; Accredited with Distinction
Crestone Charter School — Centers of Excellence Award
Moffat School — Governor's Distinguished Improvement Award
North Conejos Centauri Middle School — Governor's Distinguished Improvement Award
North Conejos — Accredited with Distinction; John Irwin Award; Governor's Distinguished Improvement Award (Centauri Middle School)
Sanford — Accredited with Distinction
Sangre de Cristo — Accredited with Distinction
Sargent Senior High School — Governor's Distinguished Improvement Award
Sargent — Accredited with Distinction; Governor's Distinguished Improvement Award (high school)

(In an initial article about the awards, Centennial was inadvertently omitted.)

Established by the Colorado State Legislature, the Centers of Excellence award recognizes schools that demonstrate the highest sustained rates of student longitudinal growth as measured by the Colorado Growth Model among those that have at least 75 percent at-risk students. In 2016, 33 schools earned this award.

The Governor’s Distinguished Improvement awards are given to schools that demonstrate excellent student growth. On the School Performance Framework used by the state to evaluate schools, these schools “exceed” expectations on the indicator related to longitudinal academic growth over three years. In 2016, 128 schools earned this award.

The John Irwin awards are given to schools that demonstrate excellent academic achievement. On the School Performance Framework, these schools “exceed” expectations on the indicator for academic achievement over three years. In 2016, 168 schools earned this award.