Preliminary data released by the Colorado Department of Education on Wednesday shows Denver Public Schools achieved a higher performance rating.

Schools and districts across the state have earned higher marks for the last academic year in the annual state performance rating.

State education officials called the results “steady progress.”

The release of the ratings comes after last month’s test scores in math and English showed students are at or near pre-pandemic levels. Still, many regard the 2019 academic performance as inadequate. With 44.5% of students reaching the English benchmark in 2019 and 32.7% in math, the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) results make clear that most students are falling short of state standards. In 2019, 55.5% of students across Colorado did not meet state expectations in English and 67.3% in math.

Called “performance frameworks,” the preliminary ratings on district and school performance released on Wednesday are part of the state’s accountability system used to accredit school districts.

Each year, the state issues school performance ratings for every district using — among other things — state testing data and graduation rates.

The highest rating a school district can receive is “distinction,” followed by “accredited,” “improvement,” “priority improvement,” and “turnaround.”

For schools, the highest rating is “performance,” followed by “improvement,” “priority improvement,” and “turnaround.”

After four consecutive years designated as “improvement,” DPS achieved the higher “accredited” status.

“This year’s results are a strong reflection of the hard work, resilience, and dedication shown by our students, educators, school leaders, and support staff across the district,” DPS Superintendent Alex Marrero said in an email to The Denver Gazette. “Earning an accredited or green rating is a significant milestone for DPS, and we’re proud of the collective progress our community has made.”

He added, “While this achievement is worth celebrating, it’s just the beginning. We know there’s more work ahead. Our commitment remains steadfast: to ensure every student, in every school, has the support and opportunities they need to thrive.”

Among the take aways:

• 55% of Colorado school districts earned an accredited or higher rating, a 3% year-over-year increase.

• Two-thirds of schools earned a performance rating, a 2% increase over last year.

• 14 school districts landed on what’s called the “accountability clock,” triggered by receiving the two lowest performance ratings (priority improvement or turnaround), compared to 11 in the 2024-25 academic year.

Fewer schools across the state this year (176) are on the accountability clock compared to last academic year (190), state data shows.

In Denver, there are 23 campuses — compared to 20 last year — with one of the two lowest ratings, accounting for 12% of the district’s 193 schools.

Colorado’s accountability clock tracks schools and districts with low student achievement or growth on state tests. After five straight years of the lowest ratings, the state Board of Education is required to step in.

The results are considered preliminary because schools and districts can request changes to the ratings. They become final in December.

The ratings come on the heels of the state releasing the most recent testing data.

The Colorado Measures of Academic Success — the state’s standardized test — provides the clearest picture yet of how much ground students have regained since the pandemic’s learning disruptions.

It showed Colorado students have returned to, or surpassed, pre-pandemic levels for all subjects and grades except for fourth-grade English, and English and math in eighth grade.

DPS students are trailing the statewide recovery but showing progress.

Denver students are close to regaining their pre-pandemic performance levels in English, with test scores just 0.8% below 2019. In math, 32.9% of students performed at grade level compared with 32.7% five years ago.