Reading levels for Denver's youngest students rise toward pre-pandemic levels

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DENVER (KDVR) — Denver Public Schools officials say a “culture of literacy” has led to a higher rate of K-3 students reading at grade level, but literacy rates have still not returned to pre-pandemic levels.

According to DPS, about 61% of all students tested were reading at grade level or above. That’s a 3% growth from last spring, when the district reported 58% of students were reading at grade level, and a 12% increase from fall 2023. Included in that growth is a 4% increase for Black students and a 7% increase for Hispanic students.

“I applaud the work of our incredible educators,” Denver Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero said. “While we still have more work to do, the clear gains of our students demonstrate that the approach we are taking is working.”

While the rate of kindergarten students reading at or above grade level returned to pre-pandemic levels, that’s not the case for all K-3 students. Before the pandemic, 68% of students in kindergarten through third grade were reading at grade level.

READ Act focuses on student reading levels

DPS noted in an announcement that reading at grade level by the end of third grade has been shown in studies to be an indicator of future success in school, employment and life.

“Students who are not proficient readers by third grade are more likely to struggle in school, drop out of high school, and have behavioral and mental health issues,” the district said in its announcement.

The district noted that Colorado’s Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act, known as the READ Act, is designed to ensure children are reading at grade level by the end of third grade. DPS said the act requires individualized intervention plans for students scoring significantly below grade level.

DPS reported that this spring, the district rate of students scoring significantly below grade level improved by 1% for a total of 23% of students scoring as such.

Some Denver schools see double-digit improvements

In year-over-year growth, the biggest change in test scores was noted at Goldrick Elementary School. The school saw a 35% increase in reading at grade level and above and decreased the rate of students scoring significantly below grade level by 36% compared to spring 2023.

The International Academy of Denver at Harrington also reported extensive success, increasing grade-level reading scores by 32% and decreasing the number of students scoring significantly below grade level by 36% since spring 2023.

The district also noted it is focusing on marginalized student groups and said the district’s free and reduced lunch population saw scores increase from 38% in the fall to 54% reading at or above grade level at the end of the school year. Black students also outpaced the district average of in-year growth, with numbers increasing by 16% from fall to spring, while the district averaged 12%.

Literacy test scores for third through 11th grades will not be released until next month.

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Heather Willard

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