Roaring Fork Schools Retain Accredited Status With Math Gains

Glenwood Springs —The smell of chalk dust and old library books still hangs in the air of Glenwood Springs, a scent that has defined the Western Slope for generations. But beneath that familiar texture lies a shift in the academic landscape, one that became clear when the Colorado Department of Education released its 2026 school and district performance frameworks on August 31. For the second consecutive year, Roaring Fork Schools has retained its “Accredited” status, a designation that signals stability in a system that has been navigating significant changes over the last half-decade.

This accreditation isn’t just a bureaucratic checkbox; it reflects a tangible movement in student outcomes. Twelve of the district’s thirteen traditional schools earned the highest rating of “performance,” a distinction that highlights a broad-based improvement rather than isolated successes. The only exception was Glenwood Springs Elementary School, which did not receive the top rating in 2026. However, even this outlier shows progress, having moved up 6% from “Priority Improvement” to “Improvement” since the previous year. It’s a reminder that while the overall picture is bright, individual schools continue to climb their own unique trajectories.

Superintendent Anna Cole framed these results as a critical snapshot as the district begins year three of its five-year strategic plan. She noted that since launching the plan, the district moved into the state’s “Accredited” performance category and has maintained that rating. Perhaps more encouragingly, three schools shifted from “Improvement” to “Performance” during this period. Of the twelve schools that maintained the “Performance” rating, eight actually increased their year-over-year scores. Crystal River Elementary School saw a 12.6% increase, Roaring Fork High School rose by 8.1%, and Glenwood Springs Middle School climbed 7.3%. These aren’t marginal tweaks; they are substantial leaps that suggest the instructional strategies being implemented are resonating with students.

If you look closely at the subject-specific data, math emerges as the star performer. RFSD Chief Academic Officer Jessica Piwko identified math as the “clearest area of positive momentum,” citing improving achievement and strong growth across all assessments. This surge is particularly notable because it includes growth above the state average among several student groups that have historically experienced opportunity and achievement gaps. The district adopted a new math curriculum in 2022, and Piwko suggests we are now seeing the impact of that investment reflected in student outcomes. The district’s median growth percentile on the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) increased from 55 in 2025 to 56 in 2026, while its PSAT 8/9 median growth percentile jumped significantly from 53 to 58.5. Students also made gains in five of the six grade levels tested on CMAS math.

There are rough edges, of course. In English Language Arts (ELA), the district’s CMAS achievement dropped slightly, falling 0.2% from 37.3% in 2025 to 37.1% in 2026. However, the release notes that this decline stayed consistent with the statewide trend, which also showed a slight dip in ELA achievement. Cole acknowledged that literacy remains an important area of focus, explaining that the district began the process last year of selecting a new K-8 ELA curriculum because they have not yet seen the level of achievement and growth they expect for all students. It’s a candid admission that while math is surging, reading requires renewed attention and resources.

As the new school year unfolds, the sense of momentum is palpable in the hallways and classrooms of the Roaring Fork Valley. The accreditation serves as a foundation, but the real story is written in the improved test scores and the growing confidence of educators and families alike. There’s a warmth to the progress, a steady hum of effort that underpins the statistics. You can feel it in the way teachers discuss the new math curriculum with pride, or in the quiet determination of students tackling challenging ELA passages. The path forward is clear, paved with the data and driven by a community committed to excellence.

The final bell rings, echoing through the corridors of Glenwood Springs High School, a sound that marks the end of another chapter and the beginning of the next. Outside, the jagged peaks of the Elk Mountains stand silent against the blue sky, their rocky faces catching the late afternoon sun. In the distance, the sound of a train whistle cuts through the crisp air, a familiar reminder of the connection between this valley and the wider world. The chalk dust settles, the books close, and the work continues, one page at a time.