Understanding Your School’s Performance Rating

A guide for families of color navigating school accountability

When choosing a school or understanding how your child’s school is performing, you may hear about school performance ratings. These ratings are used by states and school districts to show how well schools are supporting student learning.

For families of color, understanding these ratings can be a helpful tool for advocating for strong educational opportunities and ensuring schools are meeting the needs of all students.

What Is a School Performance Rating?

A school performance rating is a score or category that shows how well a school is doing based on several measures of student success.

In Colorado, schools are often placed into categories such as:

• Performance – The school is meeting expectations for student learning.

• Improvement – The school needs to strengthen student achievement in some areas.

• Priority Improvement – The school requires significant improvement.

• Turnaround – The school needs major changes to improve outcomes.

These ratings are designed to help families understand how schools are serving students.

What Data Is Used to Determine Ratings?

School performance ratings are based on several types of student data, including:

Academic AchievementHow well students perform on state assessments in subjects like reading, writing, and math.

Academic GrowthHow much students improve academically over time.

Graduation RatesFor high schools, the percentage of students who graduate on time.

Student ParticipationWhether students are consistently participating in assessments and learning.

These measures help districts and states evaluate how effectively schools are supporting student success.

Why These Ratings Matter for Families

School performance ratings can help families:

• Understand how their child’s school compares to others

• Ask questions about how the school is supporting student learning

• Advocate for resources and improvements if needed

• Make informed decisions when choosing schools

Ratings are not the only measure of a school’s quality, but they can provide helpful insight.

Questions Families Can Ask

If you are reviewing your school’s performance rating, you may want to ask:

• What is our school’s current rating?

• What factors contributed to this rating?

• What steps is the school taking to improve student outcomes?

• How are students of different backgrounds being supported?

• How can families partner with the school to support improvement?

Asking questions helps ensure transparency and partnership.

Encouragement for Families

Families of color play an essential role in strengthening schools and advocating for educational equity. Understanding school performance ratings can help parents stay informed and engaged in conversations about their child’s education.

When families ask questions, share their perspectives, and partner with schools, it creates stronger learning environments for all students.

Your voice—and your child’s success—matter.