EPMS News

No cost to Families!

The school district has partnered with Salud Family Health Center to offer free dental screenings for students.

This is a great opportunity, as it comes at no cost to families and helps minimize time away from school for dental appointments.

Completing the consent form allows your child to receive:

• Dental Screening
• Fluoride Varnish
• Dental Sealants
• Dental Cleaning (if applicable)

Students will be bringing home a flyer and consent form the first week of October. To have your child participate, please complete the form and return it to your school’s front office. Please note that the QR code on the form is not functioning correctly, so it’s important to return the paper form.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the school or our district nurse.

Estes Park School District Achieves Performance District Status Significant Growth Across All Schools

The Estes Park School District is excited to announce its achievement of a Performance District rating, based on newly-released preliminary ratings, showcasing the hard work and dedication of our students, staff, and the entire community. The Colorado Department of Education (CDE), which annually evaluates all public schools and districts, has recognized the progress made across all three schools in our district.

Every school in Estes Park showed improvement this year, resulting in the district’s new status as a Performance District. The Elementary School improved by 5.1 points, moving from a priority improvement rating to an improvement rating. The Middle School saw an impressive 8.1 point increase, maintaining its performance rating, and the High School made a 4.6 point gain, moving from an improvement rating to a performance rating. This collective effort has elevated the district to a performance rating, with an overall increase of 5.8 points.

The CDE evaluates school performance using achievement data from state assessments in math and English language arts for grades 3-11, and science for grades 5, 8, and 11. Growth data in math and English language arts is measured for students in grades 4-10, comparing their progress over two consecutive years with peers across Colorado. Similarly, growth data from the English language acquisition assessment for multilingual learners in grades 1-12 is also factored into the calculations. Additionally, the evaluation includes postsecondary and workforce readiness indicators, such as SAT scores, graduation rates, and matriculation rates.

Superintendent Ruby Bode expressed her pride in the district’s success, saying, "These results come after just the first year of implementing our district strategic plan. The improvements we are seeing are a direct result of the focused, collective efforts of our teachers, the hard work of our students, and the support of our families and community. We are on the right path, and I am confident we will continue to build on this momentum. I am proud of what our public schools contribute to the future of this community."

The Estes Park School District is committed to continuing this upward trajectory and ensuring that all students receive the high-quality education they deserve. With the support of families, community members, and staff, the future looks bright for the district.

Press Release: Issued August 29, 2024

According to state and federal laws, Estes Park District R-3 (EPSD), along with all other districts in Colorado, administers the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) and PSAT/SAT to students at the end of each school year to measure their progress. These assessments provide a common measure of students' achievement against the Colorado Academic Standards in English Language Arts (ELA), math, and science.

On August 29, the Colorado Department of Education publicly released results from school districts throughout the state. The data EPSD received reflects assessments administered in April 2024. During this time, students in grades 3 through 8 took the CMAS for ELA and math. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 took the CMAS science assessment. High school students in grades 9 and 10 took the PSAT, while grade 11 students took the SAT, assessing their proficiency in reading, writing, and math.

Superintendent Ruby Bode shared, “The results demonstrate that our district’s students are making noteworthy academic growth. The data confirms what we have observed through our district summative assessments already: while we are seeing district-wide growth gains, the most significant improvements are in math. Moving forward, our focus will be on maintaining these gains in math while strategically enhancing reading and writing skills across the upper elementary, middle, and high school levels. This data, coupled with our district assessments, provides us with a clear roadmap for our improvement planning.”

The overall rate of student participation in the 2024 assessments ranged between 87.7% and 95.5%, an improvement from the 2023 range of 80.5% to 92.2%. (Note: Colorado law allows parents to excuse their children from taking state-required tests.)

While achievement on the assessments remained consistent with the previous year, with the percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations still below the state average, the growth data reveals a more encouraging story. 

In ELA, 35% of students in grades 3-8 met or exceeded expectations, compared to 44% statewide. In math, 25% of students met or exceeded expectations, compared to 34% statewide. Science results showed that 26.7% of 5th, 8th, and 11th graders met or exceeded expectations, compared to 32.7% statewide. For high school students, 59.3% met or exceeded expectations in ELA, compared to 62.9% statewide, while 18.4% met or exceeded expectations in math, compared to 34.9% statewide.

However, what is not immediately visible in these achievement scores is the substantial academic growth our students have made. On the ACCESS for English Language Learners assessment, 73.2% of students demonstrated typical to high growth, up from 63% the previous year, with a median growth percentile (MGP) of 51, surpassing the state median. This growth underscores the district’s commitment to improving student outcomes for English language acquisition.

Similarly, on the CMAS ELA assessment, students in grades 3-8 achieved a 51 MGP, and a 49 MGP in math—both significant increases from the previous year, reflecting the district’s improvement efforts and the dedication of our educators.

Both achievement and growth measurements will determine the accreditation rating that the schools and district will receive from the Colorado Department of Education, with results scheduled for public release on September 10.

Every parent with a student attending school in the district last year has received a letter from the principal of their student’s school, along with individual student performance reports. This information is important for understanding each student’s college and career readiness.

Superintendent Bode expressed optimism, stating, “I am hopeful that the impressive growth shown by our students will be reflected in improved accreditation ratings. These results are more promising than those from the previous year, and I credit this progress to the hard work of our students, the commitment of our staff, and the support of our families.

Estes Park School District will provide breakfast and lunch at no cost for all enrolled students. 

Estes Park School District R-3 is pleased to announce its participation in the Community Eligibility Provision. Estes Park School District R-3 will offer no-cost breakfast and lunch to all enrolled students during the 24/25 School year. Research shows students who are not hungry perform better in school. By providing breakfast and lunch at no cost, we better support student learning. These breakfasts and lunches follow U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines for healthy school meals. Families can feel secure knowing the meals they eat at school meet rigorous federal and state nutrition standards. 

School cafeterias always offer fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat or fat-free milk. School meals also meet limits on calories, sodium, and unhealthy fats. We encourage all families to choose school meals. This increases funding for our schools and creates a strong school community around mealtimes. It also saves time and money, which families can use for what’s most important to them. 

Fill out your Free Meal Application today!

Your household’s free and reduced-price school meals application can help your family access discounts at the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District (EVRPD) and secure additional funds for your school. Get an application at your school or apply online through LINQ and click Meal Applications.
CDE Income Eligibility Guidelines