DENVER - The Colorado Department of Education recognized and celebrated  schools and districts that won performance awards in the 2023 and 2024 school years at its School and District Awards ceremony On May 16, 2025.

The event celebrated schools and districts across Colorado receiving the following awards for 2023 and/or 2024: Centers of Excellence, John Irwin School of Excellence, Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award, High School Academic Growth Award and Districts Accredited with Distinction. 

Commissioner Susana Córdova and members of the State Board of Education, including Chair Rebecca McClellan, Vice Chair Yazmin Navarro, Board member Lisa Escárcega, and Board member Kathy Gebhardt, presented the awards.

 CDE selects award-winning schools and districts based on their academic achievement, academic growth, reduction of academic growth gaps, and postsecondary and workforce readiness. Districts that receive the Accredited with Distinction rating perform in the top 10% of all Colorado districts, earning more than 80% of the possible points on the District Performance Framework report. 

Regional school districts receiving awards:

Boulder Valley School District RE-2: 2024 District Accredited with Distinction; 2023 & 2024 Governor's Distinguished Improvement Award to Fairview High School; 2024 Governor's Distinguished Improvement Award to Nederland Elementary School; 2024 John Irwin Award to Nederland Elementary School.

Clear Creek RE-1: 2024 Governor's Distinguished Improvement Award to King-Murphy Elementary School.

Jefferson County Public School District R-1: 2023 & 2024 Governor's Distinguished Improvement Award to Ralston Elementary School; 2023 & 2024 John Irwin Award to Ralston Elementary School.