Poudre School District schools were recently honored with Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Awards and John Irwin Schools of Excellence Awards for the 2010-11 school year.

The awards go to schools in the top 8 % of schools in the state of Colorado as determined by the Colorado Department of Education. Nine PSD schools received both awards.

Fifteen PSD schools were selected for the Colorado Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Awards which recognize the top 8 percent of public schools that demonstrate the highest rates of student longitudinal growth as measured by the Colorado Growth Model. Nine PSD schools received John Irwin Schools of Excellence Awards which recognizes the top 8 percent of public schools that demonstrate the highest achievement on statewide assessments (CSAP).

Schools selected for the Colorado Governors Distinguished Improvement Awards are: Bethke Elementary; Dunn Elementary; Harris Bilingual Elementary (second year); Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School; Kruse Elementary; Liberty Common Charter School (second year); Livermore Elementary (second year); Lopez Elementary; McGraw Elementary (second year); Riffenburgh Elementary; Ridgeview Classical Charter School (second year); Timnath Elementary; Traut Core Knowledge Elementary; Werner Elementary (second year); and Zach Elementary (second year). These 15 schools are among a field of 162 schools statewide selected to receive the award.

The John Irwin Awards are given to schools that demonstrate excellent academic achievement. Based on the school performance framework that is used by the state to evaluate schools, these schools “exceed” expectations on the academic achievement indicator and “meet or exceed” expectations on the indicator related to academic growth gaps.

Schools selected for the 2011 John Irwin School of Excellence: Bethke Elementary; Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School (second year); Liberty Common Charter School (second year); Livermore Elementary (second year); McGraw Elementary; Ridgeview Classical Charter School (second year); Traut Core Knowledge Elementary (second year); Werner Elementary (second year); and Zach Core Knowledge Elementary (second year). These nine schools were among a field of 150 schools statewide selected to receive this award.