DENVER -- Gov. Bill Owens said Wednesday that while the latest state test scores indicate Colorado still faces challenges in education, the scores also show "steady, measured progress" in many areas.

"Colorado, like every state, still faces significant challenges in our schools. While we have seen steady, measured progress in many of the test scores, we still have work to do. When we started testing in 1997, we embarked on a climb toward educational excellence. It's a tough climb but, as some of our schools have found, the view from the top is worth every step," said Owens just before the scores were released.

Owens stressed that he did not want individual success stories to become lost in the "packets of printouts" distributed on Wednesday.

"There are many shining stars that offer inspiration to all schools in Colorado. You can find schools that have doubled, or even quadrupled, the number of proficient or advanced students, proving that real progress can be achieved," said Owens.

Owens cited three examples of schools showing significant improvement.

Valdez Elementary School in Denver, a low-rated school where more than nine out of ten children come from poor families. In one year, the percentage of students who scored proficient or advanced in fifth grade reading doubled.

Centennial Junior High School in San Luis, where 87 percent of the children come from poor families. In seventh grade reading, the percentage scoring proficient or advanced more than doubled. In seventh grade writing, the percentage of proficient or advanced tripled from 19 percent to 58 percent.

Lincoln Elementary in Lamar, where nearly every child is from a poor family. The school had just 3 percent of their fourth graders reading at a proficient level in last year's test. In one year, that percentage more than quadrupled.

Owens also said that much more work has to be done.

"Let me be clear that we should not paper over reality. Test scores still have much room for improvement. For example, only 27 percent of our tenth graders scored proficient in math. But I am confident that we have the funding and the dedicated teachers in place to get the job done for Colorado's students," said Owens .

Additional Resources:

• CSAP Results