News Release - Colorado elementary school celebrated for exceptional achievement

March 8, 2022

Colorado elementary school celebrated for exceptional achievement

MCCLAVE, Colo. - Colorado Education Commissioner Katy Anthes today celebrated McClave Elementary School as a 2021 National Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Distinguished School.

The award is given to high-achieving Title I schools -- those in which 35% or more students are considered low income. McClave was chosen out of the state’s 750 Title I schools for producing exceptional student performance and academic growth for two consecutive years, based on assessment results from 2018 and 2019.

McClave Elementary, part of McClave School District RE2 in southeastern Colorado, is a preschool through sixth grade school with approximately 41% of the students eligible for free and reduced meals, based on the most recent pupil membership data. The school regularly earns the highest rating on the state’s annual School Performance Framework.

Anthes presented the award during a ceremony today at the school.

“CDE is honored to recognize the efforts of McClave Elementary’s staff, families and school community in helping students achieve,” Anthes said. “Congratulations to the students for working so hard to succeed.”

The ESEA Distinguished Schools Program is sponsored by the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators. 

Each state in the association annually selects up to two schools to receive the award based on student progress and other indicators of school performance. The school received an award of $10,000 to support Title I programs, which are designed to assist schools with high percentages of children from low-income families.

Visit the National ESEA Distinguished Schools webpage for more information about the program.