The kids are more than all right at Basalt Elementary School (BES), seeing as the K-4 public school received the Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award. Presented by the Colorado Department of Education, the honor recognizes schools that have shown significant improvements in closing achievement gaps and student growth. Only a limited number of schools statewide receive the award.
“We are so excited, happy and proud of our students and teachers,” said Whitney Carper Bell, the school’s culturally and linguistically diverse education coach. “It’s just a little snapshot of our school, but I do feel like it’s a testament of how hard our third and fourth grade teachers have worked to help our students.”
BES received the award in August 2025, after demonstrating improved Colorado Measures of Academic Success scores over time. Data represents the 2024-25 school year and highlights students’ progress from third to fourth grade. Those students are now in fifth grade.
“One of the key measures used to determine the award is Median Growth Percentile (MGP),” according to a press release, “which compares how much students grow academically compared to peers across the state.” The elementary school’s results demonstrated an 80 MGP in English language arts and a 79 in math. Comparatively, statewide measures show a 50 MGP overall. Notably, 87% of BES multilingual learners experienced improvement, compared to 45% statewide and 50% district wide.
“Our staff is reflective and committed,” Principal Grant Waaler stated in a press release. “We know where our kids are shining and where they need support, and we have a coordinated effort to address those needs. We often talk about being a ‘warm demander,’ someone who genuinely cares about their students and can still challenge them to [fulfill] their potential.”
The elementary school previously won the award in 2011, and has since sought to close achievement gaps. Two key changes were creating a culture of student accountability and restructuring the school’s unique dual language program.
Around 2021, the school was put on a state performance plan due to low test scores, and received a “Connect for Success” grant from the Colorado Department of Education. The grant allowed a team of BES teachers and staff to observe and connect with high-performing Colorado schools.
Carper Bell said that the BES staff was impressed by schools that implemented purposeful engagement along with student ownership. Due to that inspiration, BES students now have their own data binder, which includes academic and social goals. When goals are achieved, they celebrate as a community by ringing the famous Longhorn bell in the foyer.
“It was great and I do feel like that was the start of getting us back on track,” said Carper Bell. “They’re checking in and tracking their progress. It has been huge in helping our students.”
The school also moved away from an outdated dual language model that separated students, created challenges for teachers and limited literacy outcomes. The new model allows students to engage in a 50-50 immersion setting. Together, native-Spanish-speaking and native-English-speaking students receive daily, balanced dual language instruction; math, science and social studies courses alternate between the languages.
“I think [this change] has likely contributed to our success, because our students are receiving more instruction in their second language than they were previously,” said Carper Bell. She also noted that the school has a robust reading intervention program that ensures students are reading at grade level in their first language.
“It’s inherently rigorous to be learning math, social studies and science in your second language, but we have such talented staff and teachers who use effective language strategies in the classroom,” Carper Bell said. “When you go into the classrooms, you’re not seeing second language learners looking lost.”
As a former second grade teacher, Carper Bell emphasized that when teachers are supported, kids will thrive. Recently, the Aspen Times named BES the “Best Place to Work,” and current results from the Teaching and Learning Conditions Colorado survey, a statewide analysis of educator perceptions of working and learning conditions, shows a score of 94% (the state’s average is 84%).
The school’s warm and welcoming community has played a critical role in its success. Its family liaison, Flor Prieto, helps families acclimate to the school and greater community, and a deep well of parent and community volunteers creates a full circle of support. Looking toward the future, Carper Bell is excited to celebrate this award with students and continue building upon the school’s success.
“Everyone is so supportive and you feel that when you walk in the building,” Carper Bell concluded. “The kids are happy and excited to learn.”