Education group accredits Pueblo City Schools

A third-party education group is accrediting Pueblo City Schools.

The district has been working to get this for almost two years.

This comes after the state is demanding the district improve or face a takeover. The district is in priority improvement status, which is the second lowest rating for a district in Colorado.

AdvancED was at District 60 schools all week touring them and interviewing more than 250 students, teachers and faculty about what they think of the district.

The group presented their findings in front of the School Board Thursday.

Representatives said they like that D60 has challenging work that is attainable and the students are engaged in the learning activities.

Despite the praise and the accreditation, the group said D60 still has work to do.

The group said the district needs to give money to improving the infrastructure at the schools and there needs to be equal resources allocated to all schools in D60.

“You’re at a point in time where you truly need to become a school system rather than what we like to phrase a system of schools,” lead evaluator George Griffin said.

After their findings, people in the room cheered when they found out they were being accredited.

“It really just feels good to know that the things that we are doing are leading us down the right track,” Principal Eric Decesaro said.

“It is everything, it is a lift for us,” Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services Sheryl Clarke said.

Central High School also received STEM certification from AdvancED.

D60 will have to reapply for accreditation every five years.

The district will meet with the state Board of Education next year to find out if it will be taken out of priority improvement status.