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Larimer and Weld counties, Colorado

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Loveland

Thompson board sets 64% third-grade English language arts target

·Loveland·Larimer County

From the Thompson School District Board of Education meeting of

The other goals cover fifth- and eighth-grade math, graduation and narrower achievement and growth gaps between student groups. The plan calls for progress monitoring through local assessments at the beginning, middle and end of each year.

The Thompson School District board approved four student outcome goals Wednesday. One targets 64% of third-graders performing at or above grade level in English language arts by spring 2031, up from 44% in spring 2026. The measure is based on Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) tests.

The math goal would raise the share of fifth-graders at or above grade level on CMAS from 37.2% in spring 2026 to 51% by spring 2031. For eighth-graders, the same math measure would rise from 32.7% to 45% over that period. The graduation target would raise the four-year on-time rate from 90.9% to 95% by spring 2031.

“I really hope that we can exceed these percentages,” a board member said, calling for stronger future targets, especially in English language arts. Another board member called for the five-year goal to be broken down over time to see whether it was realistic. A third said the four goals were ambitious and that the board should not settle for easy targets.

A board member said “the graduation rate is one thing, but the readiness for life after secondary school is another one” and urged the board to revisit a readiness goal when it could be measured. The board had not chosen one because it did not know how to measure it, the member said. Another board member said state workplace-readiness standards were still being worked out, preventing the board from setting a goal. Businesses the member worked with emphasized workplace readiness, the member said.

The board’s equity goal calls for a 15% decrease in achievement and growth gaps between historically marginalized groups and their peers on annual CMAS assessments. Those groups include students with disabilities and multilingual students, among others. The board briefing memorandum says the goals would affect all schools and directly affect teachers and students.

The adopted goals would be part of the district’s adopted strategic plan, the board briefing memorandum says. It calls for local assessments throughout the year, including iReady diagnostic assessments, to measure progress. It sets monitoring for the beginning, middle and end of the year.

More from this meeting

  1. Thompson School District Board of Education, Oct. 21, 2026

    Thompson school board approves five-year student achievement plan; Thompson board sets 64% third-grade English language arts target, 6-0; Thompson schools add pregnancy, parental status to nondiscrimination policy, 5-1; 9 consent items adopted.

  2. Item 6.1Thompson school board approves five-year student achievement plan

    The districtwide goals cover literacy, math, equity and high school completion. A rollout plan is intended to help staff take ownership, with communication and training aimed at staff, families and community members; no training timeline or format is listed.

  3. Item 6.3, Item 6.4 and Item 6.5Thompson schools add pregnancy, parental status to nondiscrimination policy

    The Thompson School District Board of Education approved a revised nondiscrimination policy Oct. 21, adding pregnancy and parental status to its protected-class list.

  4. Item 6.6Thompson school board approves chart without two director positions

    The revised policy will be posted on the district website, and the organizational chart will be reviewed annually after each school year begins. The revisions reflect roles eliminated for 2026-27.

  5. Item 7.1Thompson district projects $4.44 million drop in general fund balance

    The plan includes a $3 million draw already built into the budget, while moving staff from the Medicaid fund to the General Fund also contributes to the projected decline.