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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 2024-25
Total enrollment
87,751
-3,035 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18
School 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
White
55%
Hispanic
43%
Black
4%
Asian
4%
Two or more
23%
Native American
2%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
28%
Hispanic
61%
Black
3%
Asian
4%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
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%.

See all 118 schools in Adams County ranked by score →

All schools (171)

NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Pathways Future CenterThorntonHigh06-12386·
Woodglen Elementary SchoolThorntonElementaryPK-05383·
Montview Math & Health Sciences Elementary SchoolAuroraElementaryPK-05380·
Meadow Community SchoolThorntonElementaryPK-08378·
Prairie Hills Elementary SchoolThorntonElementaryKG-05378·
Riverdale Elementary SchoolThorntonElementaryPK-05372·
Achieve AcademyThorntonElementaryPK-08370·
Strasburg High SchoolStrasburgHigh09-12364·
Tennyson Knolls Preparatory SchoolArvadaElementaryPK-08364·
McElwain Elementary SchoolThorntonElementaryKG-05361·
Henderson Elementary SchoolHendersonElementaryPK-05357·
John E. Flynn A Marzano AcademyWestminsterElementaryPK-08354·
Stukey Elementary SchoolNorthglennElementaryKG-05348·
Global Intermediate AcademyDenverMiddle04-08346·
Hidden Lake SecondaryWestminsterHigh06-12340·
Hillcrest Elementary SchoolNorthglennElementaryKG-05338·
South Elementary SchoolBrightonElementaryPK-05337·
27J Online AcademyBrightonHigh06-12336·
Vantage PointNorthglennHigh06-12331·
Skyview Elementary SchoolThorntonElementaryKG-05326·
Cherry Drive Elementary SchoolThorntonElementaryPK-05325·
Shaw Heights Middle SchoolWestminsterMiddle06-08321·
North Star Elementary SchoolDenverElementaryPK-05320·
Rocky Mountain Elementary SchoolWestminsterElementaryKG-05318·
Mesa Elementary SchoolWestminsterElementaryPK-05317·
Community Leadership AcademyCommerce CityElementaryPK-05316·
Rose Hill Elementary SchoolCommerce CityElementaryPK-06315·
Welby Community School of the ArtsDenverElementaryPK-06308·
Mapleton Early Career PreparationThorntonHigh09-12306·
Ascent Classical Academy of Northern DenverBrightonElementaryKG-08305·
North Mor Elementary SchoolNorthglennElementaryPK-05304·
Metropolitan Arts AcademyDenverElementaryPK-08302·
Adams City Middle SchoolCommerce CityMiddle07-08296·
Ricardo Flores Magon AcademyDenverElementaryKG-08292·
Bennett Middle SchoolBennettMiddle06-08281·
Global Primary AcademyDenverElementaryPK-03272·
Westminster Academy for International StudiesWestminsterElementaryPK-08258·
Bennett Intermediate SchoolBennettElementary03-05256·
Bennett Elementary SchoolBennettElementaryKG-02251·
Hemphill Middle SchoolStrasburgMiddle06-08250·
Innovations & OptionsBrightonHigh06-12235·
Harris Park Elementary SchoolWestminsterElementaryPK-05234·
The Studio SchoolNorthglennElementaryKG-05215·
Sherrelwood Elementary SchoolDenverElementaryPK-05204·
Preschool on PozeThorntonElementaryPK-PK193·
New America School - ThorntonThorntonHigh09-12190·
Early College of ArvadaArvadaHigh06-12187·
Lester R Arnold High SchoolCommerce CityHigh09-12184·
Valley View Innovation SchoolDenverElementaryPK-05183·
Performing Arts School on BroadwayDenverHigh07-12169·
Victory Preparatory Academy Middle State Charter SchoolCommerce CityMiddle06-08166·
Mapleton OnlineDenverCombinedKG-12152·
Stars Early Learning CenterCommerce CityElementaryPK-PK144·
Early Learning Center at Gregory HillWestminsterElementaryPK-PK137·
Sable Child Development CenterAuroraElementaryPK-PK130·
Victory Preparatory Academy High State Charter SchoolCommerce CityHigh09-12118·
North Valley School for Young AdultsThorntonHigh09-12102·
New Legacy Charter SchoolAuroraHigh09-1296·
Bennett PreschoolBennettElementaryPK-PK79·
Bright BeginningsBrightonElementaryPK-PK72·
Early Learning Center at Francis M. DayDenverElementaryPK-PK69·
Bright Horizons PreschoolThorntonElementaryPK-PK36·
Mildred L Sanville PreschoolCommerce CityElementaryPK-PK33·
Prairie Vista Youth Services CenterBrightonCombined04-1232·
University Prep - Commerce CityCommerce CityElementaryPK-PK24·
Prairie Creek High SchoolStrasburgHigh09-1222·
Early Learning Center at New Legacy Charter SchoolAuroraElementaryPK-PK8·
Adams12 Five Star PreschoolThorntonCombinedM-M··
Hanson Elementary SchoolCommerce CityCombinedM-M··
Paris Elementary SchoolAuroraCombinedM-M··
Sable Elementary SchoolAuroraCombinedM-M··

Cities in Adams County

Thornton40 schoolsCommerce City24 schoolsWestminster22 schoolsDenver20 schoolsBrighton18 schoolsAurora16 schoolsNorthglenn14 schoolsBennett5 schoolsHenderson5 schoolsStrasburg4 schoolsArvada2 schoolsFederal Heights1 school

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

How many K-12 schools serve Adams County?
There are 171 public K-12 schools in Adams County, Colorado, with a combined enrollment of about 87,938.
How many high schools are in Adams County?
Adams County, Colorado has 33 public high schools, serving approximately 23,571 students.
How many middle schools are in Adams County?
Adams County, Colorado has 21 public middle schools, serving approximately 11,947 students.
How many elementary schools are in Adams County?
Adams County, Colorado has 104 public elementary schools, serving approximately 44,597 students.
What is the largest school district in Adams County?
Adams 12 Five Star Schools is the largest school district in Adams County, serving approximately 27,631 students. The county contains 11 school districts overall.
What is the population of Adams County?
Adams County, Colorado has a population of approximately 530,225, with a median age of 35. About 24.9% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Adams County?
Median household income in Adams County is $94,571, above the Colorado average of $77,440. About 7.3% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Adams County?
Approximately 29.0% of adults 25 and older in Adams County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Adams County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 62.0% of students in Adams County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Colorado county average of 50.3%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Adams County schools?
Across Adams County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 19.1 to 1.

Adams County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data