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Summit Schools Achieve Full Accreditation and Rising Performance

Summit School District Earns Full Accreditation
 

The school year is off to a strong start, and the energy in our classrooms is truly inspiring! We are grateful to our entire community for helping launch an excellent beginning. Last week, we shared student growth and achievement reflected in the Colorado Measures of Academic Success results. This week,  I am excited to share the preliminary release of the School Performance Framework (SPF) data. 

 

The Summit School District (SSD) is proud to announce that it has achieved a “Fully Accredited” status in the 2025 Preliminary District Performance Framework, a milestone that marks three consecutive years of unified academic focus. With a score of 58.1%, SSD is on an upward trajectory, moving beyond improvement status and laying the foundation for continued improvement.


The Performance Framework is Colorado’s statewide system for evaluating school performance based on student achievement, academic growth, and—for high schools—college and career readiness. Each school receives an annual rating that highlights both strengths and areas for improvement, ranging from a Performance Plan (meeting expectations) to Improvement, Priority Improvement, or Turnaround Plan (requiring support). While not the only measure, these results help guide school planning and provide families with a transparent snapshot of school’s performance on standardized assessments.
Table of all SSD SPF scores 8 of the 9 schools are in the Performance rating with SHS at Improvement

 
In 2025, nearly half of Colorado school districts (46%) are rated Accredited, which is the most common rating. About 1 in 10 districts (9%) earned the state’s highest rating, Accredited with Distinction. Roughly a quarter of districts (26%) are rated Accredited with Improvement, meaning they are making progress but still have areas that need attention. Smaller groups of districts face greater challenges: 4% are on Priority Improvement plans and 2% are in Turnaround status. Finally, about 13% o

 
 


At the elementary and middle school levels, every school in the district is now rated as Performance—a strong signal that foundational learning is getting stronger..

This momentum reflects the district’scommitment to high-quality instruction, innovative learning environments, and student-centered growth—a direct result of collaborative efforts between students, educators, and families.

Steady Progress Reflected in Results

  • Frisco Elementary soared to 87.0%, a 21.6-point increase in one year.
  • Summit Cove Elementary grew by 17 points, reaching 74.3%.
  • Breckenridge Elementary reached 76.7%, with strong academic achievement in both reading and math.
  • Silverthorne Elementary improved by  5.5 points to 62.3% maintaining gains after moving off an Improvement Plan last year. Thanks to focused instruction and school-wide dedication, the school continues to increase student outcomes.
  • Summit Middle School bounced back from a previous dip, gaining over 11 percentage points and achieving a Performance rating of 58.8%.

Academic Growth: A Community-Wide Win

  • CMAS English Language Arts scores across elementary grades have improved each year, now above the state average.
  • Math achievement district-wide improved significantly in 2025, climbing nearly 14 percentage points from the prior year.
  • Graduation rates remain strong: The 2023- 24 four-year graduation rate is 90.3% as compared to the state average of 84.2%.
  • Dropout rates are among the lowest in the state, including 0.0% at Snowy Peaks.

Attendance Matters: Consistent attendance is closely linked to stronger performance on standardized tests. While the state’s average chronic absenteeism rate increased by 0.7% over the past year, SSD saw a 6.4 percentage point decrease on top of significant gains made last year. 
 

Trailblazers of Tomorrow: Preparing Students for What’s Next

Looking ahead, Summit School District is accelerating its progress with a future-focused vision. In a world that’s changing faster than ever, we are preparing students not just to keep up—but to lead. Our students are the innovators, creators, and leaders of tomorrow. They are the Trailblazers of Tomorrow.

Key action areas include:

  • Career and college planning begins in 5th grade, giving students early access to real-world learning.
  • Expanded access to credentials, industry-recognized seals, and work-based learning opportunities
  • Deep investment in rigorous learning environments.
  • A continued focus on belonging, school safety, and student engagement

 

From Momentum to Mastery: The Climb Continues

We are proud of this year’s performance, but we are not stopping here. We’re committed to going further—to ensure that every student leaves our schools prepared to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

This year’s accreditation validates the district’s direction—and reinforces Summit’s dedication to academic and personal success for every student.

 
 

Tony Byrd, Superintendent