Total enrollment
91,233
+2,591 (+3%) vs SY 2020-21
Denver County
Colorado · Public K-12
Public education in Denver County reaches 91,233 students across 206 schools. Denver Public Schools is the largest district at 90,471 students. That works out to 114 elementary, 30 middle, and 54 high schools.
4-year change in Denver County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
200
-1 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Denver County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Colorado | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 32.0% | #23 of 34 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 91,233 | #3 of 41 | #104 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 200 | #2 of 41 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.1:1 | #25 of 41 | #1,797 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 62.7% | #6 of 41 | #990 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 64.1% | #2 of 40 | #370 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Denver County school rankings
Residents
718,877
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
206
3 districts
Enrollment
91,233
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$94,718
Above Colorado avg
Free/reduced lunch
62.7%
Above Colorado avg
Elementary
114
48,235 students
Middle
30
13,419 students
High
54
28,527 students
Combined / other
8
1,052 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Denver Public Schools
90,471 students · 3 districts in Denver County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Denver 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+
56.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.9%
civilian labor
Median age
35
18.0% under 18
Test scores in Denver County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 146 schools ranked. Colorado state average: 44.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Polaris Elementary School· 94.0%
- Slavens K-8 School· 86.7%
- Morey Middle School· 86.1%
- Denver School of the Arts· 82.9%
- Westerly Creek Elementary· 81.6%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Munroe Elementary School· 4.6%
- McGlone Academy· 7.5%
- Cowell Elementary School· 7.9%
- Castro Elementary School· 8.4%
- Montbello Middle School· 8.9%
Cities in Denver County
About Denver County
Denver County is a wide-reaching Colorado county of about 718,877 residents, home to 206 public schools and roughly 91,233 students.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $94,718, roughly 57% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 22% above the Colorado median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Denver County is built around 114 elementary schools (48,235 students), 30 middle schools (13,419), 54 high schools (28,527), and 8 combined or other schools.
Denver Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 90,471 students on its own.
Looking at the last 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 91,233 students, climbed 3% from the 88,642 reported in SY 2020-21. The school count fell from 201 to 200 across the same 4-year window.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Denver County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data