The staff of Asbury Elementary School, 1320 E. Asbury Avenue, is approaching the new school year with pride, having distinguished themselves in the most recent CSAP tests - again.

The Denver School District superintendent, Michael Bennett, recognized Asbury as a high performing school just after the release of the latest CSAP figures, and said "For three consecutive years, Asbury has seen incredible gains in reading and math. Fifth graders scored 80 percent proficient/advanced in reading and third and fifth grade are also 80 percent proficient/advanced in math."

In a time when CSAP results overall were described as flat or declining in some statistical areas, how does one school shine so noticeably? The principal and teachers might tell you its hard work, planning and attention to scholarship details.

YourHub.com spoke to Asbury principal Jan Box and veteran teacher Sharon Napolitano Aug. 10, just after they had finished a staff meeting planning for the start of the school year in a few days.

Napolitano, who's been at Asbury for 11 years, points out 80 percent of third and fifth-graders scoring at proficient or advanced levels in math, and fifth graders hitting that level in reading - for three consecutive years - doesn't happen overnight.

"I think it starts in kindergarten - we have excellent teachers who work together," she said. Data team meet on a bi-monthly basis, says Napolitano, "and they look at which kid is not proficient or unsatisfactory, and then we have a discussion on how to get them up to a proficient level and set some individual goals for the kids."

Teachers are careful to identify what the needs of the of the students are," said Box, "and then help the kids get to where they need to be ... even proficient learners - we don't want to leave out any kids who are already proficient."

In socio-economic terms, both note that 55 percent of the Asbury students also qualify for free or reduced lunches.

Other standout CSAP numbers at Asbury:

-Out of 80 percent of the students that scored proficient or advanced in fifth grade, 63 percent were advanced in math CSAP.

-Of 91 percent of third grade students who scored proficient or advanced in math, 41 percent were advanced.

-Fourth grade writing scores improved from 38 percent to 68 percent proficient or advanced.

-Fourth grade math scores jumped from 66 to 93 percent proficient or advanced.

-Fifth grade reading scores continued to be above 90 percent for two years in a row.

-If students are continuously enrolled for three years at Asbury, the figures show that 100 percent of them are proficient or advanced in reading.

About the criticisms of the CSAP itself, as part of the No Child Left Behind program as being too test result oriented, Box says "We need to keep in mind it is a dipstick, that is only one measure ... however, it helps us set goals for teachers and students and gives us a picture across the district and the state, and it does help us set new goals each year."

"It provides us the scores for each student and the standards they are not proficient in," adds Napolitano, noting it help with other benchmark tests, "and helps us group our kids and see which need help in the different standards."

"That's teaching ... that's their craft." Box added.

Napolitano, a lead teacher for the intermediate team attends school district meetings sees a correlation between the regular student benchmark assessments and the standout CSAP scores. She said DPS also provides the opportunities for teachers to tutor students after school for several months: "Several teachers participate in that and work with the kids to help them do better."

"If you know what you need and where you're going," says Box, "the fun part is the team meetings where you plan and say 'let's take our kids where they need to go.' We do have fabulous teachers here, I'm very lucky - they care about the kids."

Box also credited parents as Asbury for being involved and volunteering many hours at the school. "The parents are so proud; if you had any idea how many of them are in here on a daily basis, you'd be amazed," she added.

Bennett said in his praise of Asbury Elementary: "The success at Asbury should give all of us in Denver a sense of what is possible."