St. Vrain Valley Schools is proud to announce that two of its elementary schools have been awarded the prestigious national i-Ready Stretch Growth award for their outstanding growth in reading. Lyons Elementary and Niwot Elementary have achieved this honor, joining an elite group of only 11 schools in Colorado and 147 schools across the nation.

i-Ready is an innovative educational technology program that supports personalized learning for students in grades K-12, focusing on English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics. The Growth Model used by i-Ready includes two key measures: Typical Growth and Stretch Growth. Typical Growth represents the annual progress expected of an average student, while Stretch Growth outlines the accelerated progress needed for a student to reach grade-level proficiency. This model promotes transparency and sets higher expectations, motivating students to reach their full potential.

To be eligible for the i-Ready Super Stretch Schools award, a school must have a student population of more than 200, and at least 55% of its students must achieve Stretch Growth in reading. This milestone is crucial for students who initially scored below grade level on their i-Ready diagnostic assessment, as it sets them on the path to proficiency. For students already at or above grade level, it helps them maintain advanced proficiency.

“The i-Ready Super Stretch award is a true testament to how hard our teachers and staff work to meet the needs of every student, every day,” said Nancy Pitz, Principal of Niwot Elementary. “I couldn’t be more proud of our students, staff, and families for their hard work and dedication to achieve this incredible growth.”