Welcome back to the 2026-27 school year

Dear PSD students, staff and families,

There is nothing quite like the beginning of a new school year. Walking into our buildings over the first several days of school, I have seen students finding their classrooms, teachers learning names, bus drivers and food service staff greeting kids they have not seen since last spring. It is a good feeling, and I want to start by saying welcome back. We are glad you are here.

I also want to acknowledge that this start has come with challenges. Three early releases due to extreme heat in the first weeks of school is not how any of us would draw it up, and we know it created real difficulty for families arranging care and transportation on short notice. Thank you for your flexibility, and thank you to our staff who adjusted alongside you.

I also want you to know that we are actively working on long-term solutions to address the heat. Funding from the 2024 Debt-Free Mill Levy is helping us to complete capital improvements across the district. Among the capital improvements underway is the installation of air conditioning in buildings that do not have it. Air conditioning was installed at two schools during Summer 2025 and the first phase of installation was completed at two additional schools this summer. With more than thirty schools still needing air conditioning and only about ten weeks each summer to do the work, fully air conditioning all PSD buildings will take several years. In the meantime, we will also continue exploring options for starting and ending the year later for elementary and middle schools. You can find our full heat protocol at psdschools.org.

Now to the part I have been looking forward to sharing.

This spring, PSD students outperformed Colorado state averages in every subject and every grade level tested for the fifth consecutive year. On CMAS, our students exceeded state averages by twelve to twenty-five percentage points in English language arts, math, science and social studies. On the PSAT and SAT, they met college and career readiness benchmarks at rates fifteen to nineteen points above the state.

What I find most meaningful is the growth. Nineteen PSD elementary schools posted above-typical growth in both reading and math. Our multilingual learners made some of the year's strongest gains, with reading growth climbing eight points districtwide to surpass the state average. Students of color have increased their percentage meeting or exceeding expectations for three consecutive years in both CMAS and PSAT/SAT reading and math, and their growth now outpaces the state in every one of those areas.

I want to emphasize what those numbers actually represent. They are thousands of students showing up every day, and the educators who know them by name and how to accelerate their learning. Test scores are one measure among many and they do not capture everything that makes a PSD classroom special. But results like these do not happen by accident. They happen because of people — teachers, paraprofessionals, counselors, custodians, administrative staff, bus drivers, food service teams and families who show up for kids. PSD is an excellent district because of every member of this community.

I also want to be transparent about the year ahead. Our long-range planning work continues, and in the coming months we will bring forward recommendations about how we use our school buildings. Those conversations will be difficult. We are committed to sharing information with you directly and early as we explore possible changes. You can expect to hear more about possible changes in the weeks ahead. 

Today, though, my focus is on what I saw walking through our schools this week. Engaged students. Skilled teachers. Buildings full of energy and possibility. With a new school year, we are at the beginning of something great, and we get to build it together.

It is an honor to serve this district and this community. My commitment remains making sure every student has the resources, relationships, and skills they need to reach their full potential — because that is what it means to educate every child, every day.

Here is to a great year.

With appreciation,

Brian Kingsley
Superintendent
Poudre School District