Results of the spring 2025 Colorado Measures of Academic Progress tests were released last month by the Colorado Department of Education.
Though they show overall performance being at or above pre-pandemic levels in most grades and subjects, there is still “work ahead” for the state, according to the CDE, including in the realm of race and ethnicity-based achievement gaps.
Colorado Measures of Academic Progress – or CMAS – is yearly testing that involves third through eighth grade students taking standardized math and English language arts tests, and students in fifth, eighth and 11th grades taking standardized science testing.
The 2025 results marked four years’ worth of normal standardized testing data collected through CMAS because the pandemic caused 2020 tests to be canceled, and 2021 tests to be modified.
The state’s overall 2025 spring results illustrated a steady rise from pandemic lows, with 36% of students having met or exceeded expectations in math – a 1.7 point increase from last year – and over 44% of students having been at or above grade level for reading and writing – a 1% increase from 2024 data.
Science results nationally for fifth, eighth and 11th grade also showed an upward trend since COVID-19, but numbers this year reflected a general deficiency overall, with only 25% of 11th graders, 32% of eighth graders and 38% of fifth graders having met or exceeded science expectations.
Data showed students from disadvantaged backgrounds having notable achievement gaps across the board, specifically in fourth and eighth grade literacy and eighth grade math scores, which came in below pre-pandemic levels.
“CMAS results show significant gaps among student groups based on race/ethnicity, disability status, free/reduced lunch status, and multilingual learner status,” the CDE said in a news release about the results.
According to the CDE, race and ethnicity-based achievement gaps ranged from 20 and 35 points to up to a 46.3 point disparity for multilingual students on fifth grade English language arts outcomes.
“Persistent achievement gaps highlight the importance of continuing our efforts to support every learner,” said Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Córdova in the release. “These results reinforce our commitment to equity, strong support systems, and high expectations for all students.”
Local results were a mixed bag, with scores from specific schools up as much as 6.8 points in certain subjects from last year, and down in others as much as 24.3 points.
The lowest scores across local Southwest schools were seen in math, followed by science – especially at the high school level. English language arts showed relatively stronger results, with most – though not all – local schools at or above 40% to 50% met or exceeds expectations.
The Durango School District scores represented 50.6% of students having met or exceeded expectations for ELA, and 38.4% having met or exceeded expectations for math – a 0.2 and 1.5 point increase from 2024, respectively.
Science scores saw a small decrease, however, coming in at 40.9% met or exceeded expectations – a 1.8 point decline from 2024.
Bayfield School District 10 Jt-R saw increases in all categories compared with 2024 CMAS data.
ELA scores came in at 40.3% met or exceeded expectations, math at 27.7% and science at 31.1% – a 6.8, 1.5 and 1.4 point increase from last year, respectively.
Ignacio School District 11 JT also saw improvement across the board compared with 2024 for met or exceeds expectations scores.
ELA came in at 30.8% – a 2.1 point increase from last year; math at 12.2% – a 1.7 point bump; and science at 30.6% – a 6.7 point increase.
At Animas High School, 18.9% of 11th graders received a met or exceeds expectation score for science – a 24.3 point decrease from last year.
Mountain Middle School saw declines in ELA and science scores, but an increase in math, compared with 2024 data.
ELA decreased by 0.9 points from last year, with 74.2% of students meeting or exceeded expectations. Science scores were at 52.8% met or exceeds expectations, a 16.4% decrease from 2024.
Math increased by 2.8 points, with 64.5% of students having met or exceeded expectations this year.
Data from 2025 CMAS indicates improvement nationally from pandemic-era lows, as well as score increases in certain schools between last year and this year.
Local data also show schools in the area having had marked improvement in scores from COVID-19-era data, and some notable improvement from last year; but some subjects in the region – specifically math and science – could still use work.
While Córdova acknowledged the gains reflected in some areas and by some student groups on the spring CMAS results nationally, improvement is still needed overall, she said.
“We’re encouraged by the progress many student groups are making,” she said. “At the same time, we know there is work ahead to ensure more students are meeting Colorado’s academic expectations across every grade and subject.”
epond@durangoherald.com
