All rankings · Colorado
Best Colorado public schools
Eight rankings of Colorado's public schools from the latest NCES + state-assessment data. Unlike most school rankings, this list leads with BeatsExpectations: a demographics-adjusted score that asks how a school performs relative to what its student population would predict, not just in absolute terms.
Colorado schools outperforming demographics
Top schools by BeatsExpectations score. Demographically-adjusted; a +20 here means the school posts 20 more proficiency points than its FRL profile predicts.| # | School | City | Beats by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aurora Quest K-8 | AURORA | +47.9pp |
| 2 | Eads Middle School | EADS | +38.7pp |
| 3 | Polaris Elementary School | DENVER | +37.3pp |
| 4 | Challenge School | DENVER | +33.5pp |
| 5 | Galeton Elementary School | GALETON | +33.1pp |
| 6 | Eads Elementary School | EADS | +32.4pp |
| 7 | Rocky Mountain Prep Creekside | DENVER | +32.3pp |
| 8 | Manassa Elementary School | MANASSA | +30.9pp |
| 9 | Independence Academy | GRAND JUNCTION | +30.7pp |
| 10 | Dennison Elementary School | LAKEWOOD | +29.8pp |
| 11 | High Peaks Elementary School | BOULDER | +28.9pp |
| 12 | Morey Middle School | DENVER | +28.5pp |
| 13 | North Fork Montessori @ Crawford | CRAWFORD | +28.0pp |
| 14 | Zach Elementary School | FORT COLLINS | +27.3pp |
| 15 | Summit Middle Charter School | BOULDER | +26.9pp |
Colorado Title I schools beating the odds
High-poverty schools (60%+ FRL) ranking in the top quartile of their state's proficiency.| # | School | City | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eads Elementary School | EADS | 56.8% |
| 2 | Manassa Elementary School | MANASSA | 52.0% |
| 3 | Aurora Frontier K-8 | AURORA | 50.2% |
| 4 | Wray Elementary School | WRAY | 48.6% |
| 5 | Haaff Elementary School | PUEBLO | 48.2% |
| 6 | Sangre de Cristo Undivided High School | MOSCA | 47.8% |
| 7 | Rocky Mountain Prep Creekside | DENVER | 47.0% |
| 8 | Simla Elementary School | SIMLA | 46.9% |
| 9 | Harris Bilingual Elementary School | FORT COLLINS | 46.5% |
| 10 | La Jara Elementary School | LA JARA | 45.2% |
| 11 | University Hill Elementary School | BOULDER | 44.5% |
| 12 | Independence Academy | GRAND JUNCTION | 44.4% |
| 13 | Lincoln School of Science and Technology | CANON CITY | 43.6% |
| 14 | Orchard Avenue Elementary School | GRAND JUNCTION | 43.6% |
| 15 | Sabin World School | DENVER | 42.9% |
Colorado schools by raw proficiency
The traditional ranking: highest combined math + reading proficiency on the state assessment.| # | School | City | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Polaris Elementary School | DENVER | 93.5% |
| 2 | High Peaks Elementary School | BOULDER | 89.8% |
| 3 | Challenge School | DENVER | 89.7% |
| 4 | Dennison Elementary School | LAKEWOOD | 88.8% |
| 5 | Aurora Quest K-8 | AURORA | 88.7% |
| 6 | Bear Creek Elementary School | BOULDER | 86.6% |
| 7 | Hulstrom K-8 | NORTHGLENN | 85.5% |
| 8 | Summit Middle Charter School | BOULDER | 85.5% |
| 9 | Slavens K-8 School | DENVER | 84.6% |
| 10 | Zach Elementary School | FORT COLLINS | 84.4% |
| 11 | Parker Core Knowledge | PARKER | 83.5% |
| 12 | Cherry Creek Charter Academy | GREENWOOD VILLAGE | 81.8% |
| 13 | Stone Mountain Elementary | HIGHLANDS RANCH | 81.5% |
| 14 | Parmalee Elementary School | INDIAN HILLS | 80.6% |
| 15 | Steck Elementary School | DENVER | 80.2% |
Colorado schools with the lowest student-teacher ratios
Schools with 200+ students reporting the fewest students per teacher. Excludes virtual.| # | School | City | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson Academy | BROOMFIELD | 7.9:1 |
| 2 | Collegiate Academy of Colorado | LITTLETON | 8.8:1 |
| 3 | Avon Elementary School | AVON | 8.9:1 |
| 4 | Two Roads Charter School | ARVADA | 9.2:1 |
| 5 | Putnam Elementary School | FORT COLLINS | 9.3:1 |
| 6 | Calhan Secondary School | CALHAN | 9.5:1 |
| 7 | Berry Creek Middle School | EDWARDS | 9.7:1 |
| 8 | Colorado High School Charter | DENVER | 9.8:1 |
| 9 | Sleeping Giant School | STEAMBOAT SPRINGS | 9.8:1 |
| 10 | Fraser Valley Elementary School | FRASER | 9.8:1 |
| 11 | DSST: Cole High School | DENVER | 10.0:1 |
| 12 | The Vanguard School (High) | COLORADO SPRINGS | 10.0:1 |
| 13 | Edwards Elementary School | EDWARDS | 10.1:1 |
| 14 | High Plains Elementary School | COLORADO SPRINGS | 10.1:1 |
| 15 | Bill Metz Elementary School | MONTE VISTA | 10.1:1 |
Fastest-growing Colorado public schools, 2017-2024
Schools open in both years with 200+ enrollment in 2017, ranked by % change.| # | School | City | Enrollment Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Astravo Online Academy High School | BYERS | +1117% |
| 2 | Northfield High School | DENVER | +264% |
| 3 | The Pinnacle Charter School | FEDERAL HEIGHTS | +262% |
| 4 | Rocky Mountain Prep: Fletcher | AURORA | +206% |
| 5 | Three Creeks K-8 | ARVADA | +165% |
| 6 | Denver Online | DENVER | +150% |
| 7 | HOPE ONLINE LEARNING ACADEMY CO-OP | ENGLEWOOD | +139% |
| 8 | Colorado Early Colleges Aurora | AURORA | +127% |
| 9 | Heritage Heights Academy | CENTENNIAL | +121% |
| 10 | Wellington Middle-High School | WELLINGTON | +113% |
| 11 | New Vision Charter School | LOVELAND | +109% |
| 12 | Rocky Mountain Prep RISE | DENVER | +109% |
| 13 | DSST: Cedar High School | DENVER | +101% |
| 14 | Del Mar Academy | AURORA | +99% |
| 15 | Addenbrooke Classical Grammar School | LAKEWOOD | +96% |
Most racially diverse Colorado public schools
Schools ranked by how balanced their student body is. The largest single racial group's share of enrollment, lowest first.| # | School | City | Max group |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Polton Community Elementary School | AURORA | 31.3% White (146) |
| 2 | Aurora Frontier K-8 | AURORA | 31.9% Hispanic (243) |
| 3 | Murphy Creek K-8 School | AURORA | 32.2% Hispanic (275) |
| 4 | Omar D Blair Charter School | DENVER | 33.6% Black (263) |
| 5 | Aspen Crossing Elementary School | CENTENNIAL | 34.1% White (194) |
| 6 | Smoky Hill High School | AURORA | 34.2% White (785) |
| 7 | Summit Elementary School | AURORA | 34.7% Hispanic (117) |
| 8 | Challenge School | DENVER | 34.8% White (195) |
| 9 | Mission Viejo Elementary School | AURORA | 35.0% Hispanic (193) |
| 10 | Arrowhead Elementary School | AURORA | 35.1% Hispanic (175) |
| 11 | Grand Mountain School | COLORADO SPRINGS | 35.1% Hispanic (367) |
| 12 | DSST: Cedar High School | DENVER | 35.2% Hispanic (192) |
| 13 | Sky Ranch Academy | AURORA | 35.6% White (176) |
| 14 | Montclair School of Academics and Enrichment | DENVER | 35.7% Hispanic (126) |
| 15 | Red Hawk Ridge Elementary School | CENTENNIAL | 35.7% Hispanic (185) |
Largest Colorado public schools
Brick-and-mortar schools ranked by total enrollment. Virtual schools excluded.| # | School | City | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cherry Creek High School | GREENWOOD VILLAGE | 3,852 |
| 2 | Cherokee Trail High School | AURORA | 3,089 |
| 3 | Eaglecrest High School | CENTENNIAL | 2,851 |
| 4 | American Academy | CASTLE PINES | 2,803 |
| 5 | Grandview High School | AURORA | 2,684 |
| 6 | East High School | DENVER | 2,476 |
| 7 | Aurora Central Campus | AURORA | 2,468 |
| 8 | Rock Canyon High School | HIGHLANDS RANCH | 2,325 |
| 9 | Smoky Hill High School | AURORA | 2,297 |
| 10 | Overland High School | AURORA | 2,228 |
| 11 | Legend High School | PARKER | 2,206 |
| 12 | Mountain Vista High School | HIGHLANDS RANCH | 2,169 |
| 13 | Northfield High School | DENVER | 2,137 |
| 14 | Rangeview High School | AURORA | 2,078 |
| 15 | Legacy High School | BROOMFIELD | 2,052 |
Colorado schools underperforming demographics
Bottom 10% within state by BeatsExpectations. Not a verdict, a starting question. A school may be in leadership transition or recovering from a demographic shift.| # | School | City | Beats by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Addenbrooke Classical Academy | LAKEWOOD | -38.9pp |
| 2 | Clear Creek Middle School | EVERGREEN | -30.4pp |
| 3 | Cherokee Trail High School | AURORA | -30.4pp |
| 4 | Prairie Elementary School | NEW RAYMER | -29.8pp |
| 5 | Windsor High School | WINDSOR | -28.9pp |
| 6 | Riverdale Ridge High School | THORNTON | -28.9pp |
| 7 | West Grand High School | KREMMLING | -28.6pp |
| 8 | Bennett High School | BENNETT | -28.5pp |
| 9 | Hayden Valley Elementary School | HAYDEN | -28.0pp |
| 10 | Erie High School | ERIE | -27.6pp |
| 11 | Highland Middle School | AULT | -26.8pp |
| 12 | Mesa Ridge High School | COLORADO SPRINGS | -26.6pp |
| 13 | Hayden Middle School | HAYDEN | -26.3pp |
| 14 | Rifle High School | RIFLE | -25.8pp |
| 15 | Elbert Junior-Senior High School | ELBERT | -25.7pp |
About these rankings
These tables use the most recent NCES Common Core of Data (2024-25) for enrollment, demographics, and staffing, and state-native assessment data (typically 2023-24 or 2024-25) for proficiency. BeatsExpectations is computed via per-state ordinary-least-squares regression of composite proficiency on free-and-reduced-lunch share. Full methodology.
License: CC-BY 4.0. Reproduce these rankings anywhere with attribution to allk12.com. Press contact: [email protected].
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