Total enrollment
87,751
-3,035 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18
Adams County
Colorado · Public K-12
Adams County, Colorado comes in at 171 public K-12 schools on the latest counts, totaling roughly 87,938 students, with a county median household income near $94,571. By level, that breaks down as 104 elementary, 21 middle, and 33 high schools.
7-year change in Adams County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
166
+9 (+6%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
28%
was 35%
% Hispanic
61%
was 55%
% Black
3%
was 3%
% Asian
5%
was 4%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
171
11 districts
Enrollment
87,938
NCES CCD
Median income
$94,571
Above Colorado avg
Free/reduced lunch
62.0%
Above Colorado avg
Elementary
104
44,597 students
Middle
21
11,947 students
High
33
23,571 students
Combined / other
13
7,823 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Adams 12 Five Star Schools
27,631 students · 11 districts in Adams County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Adams County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
29.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.6%
civilian labor
Median age
35
24.9% under 18
Test scores in Adams County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 118 schools ranked. Colorado state average: 44.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Hulstrom K-8· 91.8%
- Stargate Charter School· 78.3%
- Silver Creek Elementary· 60.2%
- STEM Lab· 58.9%
- Rocky Top Middle School· 55.7%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Crawford Elementary School· 4.7%
- Altura Elementary School· 4.9%
- Park Lane Elementary School· 5.8%
- Fairview PK-8· 6.8%
- Rose Hill Elementary School· 6.8%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westminster High School | Westminster | High | 09-12 | 2,010 | · |
| Horizon High School | Brighton | High | 09-12 | 1,966 | · |
| The Pinnacle Charter School | Federal Heights | Combined | KG-12 | 1,905 | · |
| Academy of Charter Schools | Westminster | Combined | PK-12 | 1,887 | · |
| Northglenn High School | Northglenn | High | 09-12 | 1,844 | · |
| Prairie View High School | Henderson | High | 09-12 | 1,809 | · |
| Mountain Range High School | Westminster | High | 09-12 | 1,788 | · |
| Riverdale Ridge High School | Thornton | High | 09-12 | 1,784 | · |
| Brighton High School | Brighton | High | 09-12 | 1,733 | · |
| Stargate Charter School | Thornton | Combined | KG-12 | 1,572 | · |
| Adams City High School | Commerce City | High | 09-12 | 1,500 | · |
| Thornton High School | Thornton | High | 09-12 | 1,439 | · |
| Bromley East Charter School | Brighton | Elementary | PK-08 | 1,214 | · |
| Rocky Top Middle School | Thornton | Middle | 06-08 | 1,052 | · |
| Silver Hills Middle School | Northglenn | Middle | 06-08 | 965 | · |
| Colorado Preparatory Academy Elementary School | Westminster | Elementary | KG-05 | 933 | · |
| Rodger Quist Middle School | Thornton | Middle | 06-08 | 855 | · |
| Global Village Academy - North | Northglenn | Elementary | KG-08 | 838 | · |
| Colorado Preparatory Academy High School | Westminster | High | 09-12 | 823 | · |
| Otho E Stuart Middle School | Commerce City | Middle | 06-08 | 794 | · |
| York International | Thornton | Combined | KG-12 | 776 | · |
| Foundations Academy | Brighton | Elementary | KG-08 | 763 | · |
| Landmark Academy at Reunion | Commerce City | Elementary | KG-08 | 758 | · |
| Reunion Elementary School | Commerce City | Elementary | PK-05 | 742 | · |
| Turnberry Elementary | Commerce City | Elementary | PK-05 | 742 | · |
| STEM Lab | Northglenn | Elementary | PK-08 | 740 | · |
| Thornton Middle School | Thornton | Middle | 06-08 | 721 | · |
| Century Middle School | Thornton | Middle | 06-08 | 717 | · |
| Rocky Mountain Prep: Fletcher | Aurora | Elementary | PK-05 | 701 | · |
| Second Creek Elementary School | Commerce City | Elementary | PK-05 | 697 | · |
| Discovery Magnet School | Thornton | Elementary | KG-08 | 692 | · |
| West Ridge Elementary | Thornton | Elementary | PK-05 | 690 | · |
| Colorado Preparatory Academy Middle School | Westminster | Middle | 06-08 | 681 | · |
| High Point Academy | Aurora | Elementary | PK-08 | 680 | · |
| Prairie View Middle School | Henderson | Middle | 06-08 | 679 | · |
| STEM Launch | Thornton | Elementary | KG-08 | 677 | · |
| Southlawn Elementary School | Commerce City | Elementary | PK-05 | 673 | · |
| Elaine S. Padilla Elementary School | Brighton | Elementary | PK-05 | 672 | · |
| Northglenn Middle School | Northglenn | Middle | 06-08 | 672 | · |
| Hulstrom K-8 | Northglenn | Elementary | KG-08 | 663 | · |
| Shadow Ridge Middle School | Thornton | Middle | 06-08 | 632 | · |
| Josephine Hodgkins Leadership Academy | Denver | Elementary | PK-08 | 597 | · |
| Eagle Ridge Academy | Brighton | High | 09-12 | 593 | · |
| Mary E Pennock Elementary School | Brighton | Elementary | PK-05 | 592 | · |
| Overland Trail Middle School | Brighton | Middle | 06-08 | 581 | · |
| Brantner Elementary School | Thornton | Elementary | PK-05 | 574 | · |
| Crawford Elementary School | Aurora | Elementary | PK-05 | 567 | · |
| North Middle School Health Sciences and Technology Campus | Aurora | Middle | 06-08 | 565 | · |
| Explore Pk-8 | Thornton | Elementary | PK-08 | 557 | · |
| Strasburg Elementary School | Strasburg | Elementary | PK-05 | 544 | · |
| Westgate Community School | Thornton | Combined | KG-12 | 540 | · |
| Silver Creek Elementary | Thornton | Elementary | KG-05 | 538 | · |
| John W Thimmig Elementary School | Henderson | Elementary | PK-05 | 531 | · |
| Orchard Park Academy | Denver | Elementary | PK-08 | 531 | · |
| Vikan Middle School | Brighton | Middle | 06-08 | 528 | · |
| Altura Elementary School | Aurora | Elementary | PK-05 | 527 | · |
| Southeast Elementary School | Brighton | Elementary | PK-05 | 527 | · |
| Belle Creek Charter School | Henderson | Elementary | KG-08 | 519 | · |
| Kemp Elementary School | Commerce City | Elementary | PK-06 | 517 | · |
| Five Star Online Academy | Westminster | Combined | 01-12 | 506 | · |
| Alsup Elementary School | Commerce City | Elementary | PK-06 | 492 | · |
| Trailside Academy | Denver | Elementary | PK-08 | 492 | · |
| Hunters Glen Elementary School | Thornton | Elementary | PK-05 | 491 | · |
| Dupont Elementary School | Commerce City | Elementary | PK-06 | 488 | · |
| Park Lane Elementary School | Aurora | Elementary | PK-05 | 486 | · |
| Tarver Elementary School | Thornton | Elementary | PK-05 | 475 | · |
| Aurora Highlands K-8 | Aurora | Elementary | PK-08 | 472 | · |
| Northeast Elementary School | Brighton | Elementary | PK-06 | 470 | · |
| Clyde Miller K-8 | Aurora | Elementary | PK-08 | 466 | · |
| Arapahoe Ridge Elementary School | Westminster | Elementary | PK-05 | 465 | · |
| Crown Pointe Charter Academy | Westminster | Elementary | KG-08 | 461 | · |
| Cotton Creek Elementary School | Westminster | Elementary | KG-05 | 455 | · |
| Destinations Career Academy of Colorado | Westminster | Combined | 04-12 | 453 | · |
| Eagleview Elementary School | Thornton | Elementary | KG-05 | 451 | · |
| Sunset Ridge PK-8 | Westminster | Elementary | PK-08 | 449 | · |
| Aurora Science & Tech Middle School | Aurora | Middle | 06-08 | 448 | · |
| Monterey Community School | Denver | Elementary | KG-08 | 440 | · |
| Pikes Peak Online School | Westminster | High | 09-12 | 438 | · |
| Leroy Elementary | Northglenn | Elementary | KG-05 | 435 | · |
| Malley Drive Elementary School | Northglenn | Elementary | PK-05 | 435 | · |
| Aurora Science & Tech High School | Aurora | High | 09-11 | 434 | · |
| Monaco Elementary School | Commerce City | Elementary | PK-06 | 434 | · |
| Bennett High School | Bennett | High | 09-12 | 431 | · |
| Clayton Partnership School | Thornton | Elementary | KG-08 | 430 | · |
| Federal Heights Elementary School | Denver | Elementary | PK-05 | 430 | · |
| Adventure Elementary | Denver | Elementary | PK-06 | 429 | · |
| Colorado Sports Leadership Academy | Denver | Elementary | PK-08 | 425 | · |
| Central Elementary School | Commerce City | Elementary | PK-06 | 421 | · |
| The STEAD School | Commerce City | High | 09-12 | 421 | · |
| Stellar Elementary School | Thornton | Elementary | KG-05 | 418 | · |
| Colorado STEM Academy | Westminster | Elementary | PK-08 | 415 | · |
| Coronado Hills Elementary School | Thornton | Elementary | PK-05 | 412 | · |
| Glacier Peak Elementary School | Brighton | Elementary | KG-05 | 412 | · |
| Westview Elementary School | Northglenn | Elementary | PK-05 | 402 | · |
| Global Leadership Academy | Denver | High | 09-12 | 400 | · |
| Academy High School | Thornton | High | 09-12 | 399 | · |
| Fairview PK-8 | Denver | Elementary | PK-08 | 397 | · |
| Kearney Middle School | Commerce City | Middle | 07-08 | 397 | · |
| Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts | Thornton | High | 09-12 | 393 | · |
| Thornton Elementary School | Thornton | Elementary | PK-05 | 387 | · |
Cities in Adams County
About Adams County
Adams County is a sprawling county of about 530,225 residents in Colorado. Its public-school system instructs approximately 87,938 students across 171 schools.
Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $94,571, 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 22% higher than the Colorado median.
On the school-mix side, Adams County is made up of 104 elementary schools (44,597 students), 21 middle schools (11,947), 33 high schools (23,571), and 13 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Adams County is Adams 12 Five Star Schools, which alone enrolls about 27,631 students.
Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 87,751 students, fell 3% from the 90,786 reported in SY 2017-18. Over that span, Adams County gained 9 schools, going from 157 to 166. The White share of public-school enrollment declined from 35% to 28%.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Adams County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
Adams County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data