Loveland Classical Schools lead Thompson School District in graduation rates

District celebrates continued outperformance of state averages, but notes areas for improvement in test scores

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Thompson School District in Colorado celebrated continued high graduation rates, with Loveland Classical Schools leading the district at 96.2% in the 2024-2025 school year. While most high schools in the district saw improvements, the district's alternative high school, Ferguson High, saw a decrease in graduation rates. The district also shared midyear assessment data, which showed mostly consistent performance in elementary and middle school math and reading scores compared to previous years, raising concerns about potential stagnation among board members.

Why it matters

Graduation rates are a key metric for evaluating the success of a school district, and Loveland Classical Schools' leading performance highlights the district's overall strength in this area. However, the stagnation in test scores across grade levels is a concern that the district will need to address to ensure continued academic growth for all students.

The details

Thompson School District data showed an overall improvement in graduation rates, with Loveland Classical Schools leading the district at 96.2% in the 2024-2025 school year, down slightly from the previous year. Other high schools in the district also saw improvements, with Loveland High School at 93.8%, Berthoud High School at 93.0%, and Mountain View High School jumping to 93.7%. Thompson Valley High School saw a considerable increase, from 86.8% in 2024 to 92.3% in 2025. However, the district's alternative high school, Ferguson High, saw a decrease in its graduation rate, from 66.7% in 2024 to 51.5% in 2025.

  • The 2024-2025 school year graduation rates were discussed at the Thompson School District board meeting on February 19, 2026.
  • The statewide on-time graduate rate during the 2024-2025 school year was 85.6%, according to Colorado Department of Education data, an increase of 1.4% from the 2023-2024 school year.

The players

Loveland Classical Schools

A charter school in the Thompson School District that had the highest graduation rate in the district during the 2024-2025 school year at 96.2%.

Berthoud High School

A high school in the Thompson School District that had a 93.0% graduation rate in the 2024-2025 school year, a 1.7% decrease from the previous year.

Ferguson High School

The alternative high school in the Thompson School District that saw a decrease in its graduation rate, from 66.7% in 2024 to 51.5% in 2025.

Bret Heller

The Superintendent of Thompson School District.

Carrie Bartmann

The Director of Assessment and Evaluation for Thompson School District.

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What they’re saying

“We are measuring end of year standards in the middle of the year.”

— Bret Heller, Superintendent (reporterherald.com)

“The graduation rates are great, but it worries me a little bit looking at the relative placement change from winter to winter that we're not really seeing a lot of movement from year to year.”

— Alexandra Lessem, Board Member (reporterherald.com)

“We are very aware of (this) as well, and that stagnation piece, we are talking about in all of our meetings.”

— Carrie Bartmann, Director of Assessment and Evaluation (reporterherald.com)

What’s next

The district will continue to monitor student performance and work to address the stagnation in test scores across grade levels.

The takeaway

While Loveland Classical Schools' leading graduation rates in the Thompson School District are a positive sign, the district's consistent but stagnant test scores across elementary and middle school grades raise concerns that will need to be addressed to ensure continued academic growth for all students.