The state of Colorado collects information from test scores all around Colorado and it just so happens that Fossil Ridge High School came out on top; exceeding 3 expectations and meeting one. All Colorado schools are measure by district and state assessments including the TCAP and MAP tests.

There are four areas of growth that each school is measured in: overall growth, performance, academic, and median growth percentile. Fossil this year exceeded the first three, and met the expectations for the median growth percentile score.

“Last year we exceed in one score, met two, and approached one,” Will Allen, FRHS principal, said. This means that FRHS not only exceeds scores above other Colorado schools, but it also improved from it’s own personal score last year.

The overall growth score revolves around how students grow on a year to year basis. The median growth percentile score shows how students that struggle compare to other struggling students that grow over a four year period before graduation. The academic score measures how kids from different schools perform on the ACT. Finally, the final score of growth performance measures how well students do on all tests. The average of advanced students for this score is 70%, and FRHS is at 94% of it’s students testing at an advanced level.

“On average, schools make about a year’s growth when it comes to the ratings. We’re making more than a year and taking bigger steps,” Allen said. That means that for the testing that occurred last year, FRHS students are progressing at a faster rate the average growth expected.

The ratings and scores revolved around TCAP testing in the past, however TCAP testing is fading out and the scores will be now measured by the CMAS and the PARCC tests. Colorado and 42 other states decided to introduce these two new tests because they deal more with critical thinking skills and give students a chance to give more thought out responses. According to Allen, these new tests will better measure the academic growth of students.

CMAS testing will take place in November and involves three social studies tests and three science tests. The PARCC will take place second semester, and involves language arts and math. With these new tests rolling in, that means that all Colorado schools will be rated on a completely blank slate.  Since there will be no more TCAP, this will be the first year that the CMAS And PARCC reflect the growth of students.

“I’m not worried about it affecting our scores. I think CMAS and PARCC will be better measure of your growth and critical thinking,” Allen said.

For now, FRHS’s growth scores are one of the highest for high schools in Poudre School District according to Allen.