The majority of students attending Jeffco Public Schools feel positive about their school and their learning experience, according to the results of a comprehensive survey conducted in the fall.

More than 60,000 students in second through 12th grade participated in the anonymous, biennial Make Your Voice Heard student survey that has been conducted by the school district since 1998.

Secondary school students were asked to rate their schools giving an "A" through "F" grade. Sixty-eight percent of the respondents in seventh and eighth grades rated their school with an "A" or "B," (up four percentage points from the previous survey) and more than six in 10, or 64 percent of high school respondents gave an "A" or "B" grade to their schools (up six percentage points from the previous survey).

Second through sixth grade students were asked about learning in various subjects; 89 percent of respondents agreed they are learning to become better readers, 87 percent feel they are learning more about math, 87 percent of the students say they are learning to be better writers.

The majority of high school respondents agree they are getting a quality education in history, social studies, English language arts, world languages, math, science and electives such as art, P.E., music, drama and computer technology.

All levels indicated gains in teacher use of technology to help students learn. More than seven in 10 (72 percent) elementary respondents, 63 percent of middle school students and 54 percent of high schools students agree or strongly agree that teachers use computers or technology to help them learn (increases of two, four, and six percentage points for elementary, middle and high school, respectively, from the previous survey).

Secondary students who say that their school building is well maintained and in good repair increased by four percentage points for middle school (77 percent) and eight percentage points for high school (67 percent).

"Thanks to voters in 2004, many of our older schools have either been remodeled or replaced using bond money, and this survey shows that those improvements are making a difference for our students," said Jeffco Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Cindy Stevenson. "But we still have work to do. Only one out of four of our schools got the upgrades needed to meet our educational standards."

Students also gave high marks to school safety and environment issues.

The full report may be viewed at http://jeffco.k12.co.us/communications/publications/

Veronica Bennett works for Jeffco Public Schools Communications Services.