Best Elementary Schools
in Denver, Colorado
We ranked the 146 elementary schools in Denver with real test data. The top 25 scored between 8.7 and 9.5 out of 10.
Updated for 2026 · Based on NCES and Colorado education data
The short answer
The top-rated elementary schools in Denver for 2026 are French American School of Denver (9.5/10), Westerly Creek Elementary (9.4/10), and Rocky Mountain Prep Creekside (9.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 146 rated elementary schools. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Choosing an elementary school in Denver?
Every elementary school in Denver is scored 1–10 on the same four measures. Use the ranking to build a shortlist, then weigh the tradeoffs a single score can't capture.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
French American School of Denver
Denver, CO. Start here, then open the profile to compare commute, district context, and score components.
Westerly Creek Elementary
Denver, CO. Start here, then open the profile to compare commute, district context, and score components.
Rocky Mountain Prep Creekside
Denver, CO. Start here, then open the profile to compare commute, district context, and score components.
Denver's elementary school landscape spans 128 ranked schools, giving families a wide range of options across the metro. French American School of Denver leads the field with a 9.3/10 composite score, followed closely by Edison Elementary, Valdez Elementary, and Inspire Elementary, all scoring 8.9/10. Centennial A School for Expeditionary Learning rounds out the top five at 8.8/10. The metro average sits at 6.5/10, but the distribution skews toward quality — 53 schools, or 41% of those ranked, score 7.0 or above. That means families have a solid pool of strong performers to evaluate, not just a handful of outliers at the top. The table below lets you sort by score, location, and other key factors to compare schools side by side. Start with the composite scores to identify top contenders, then dig into individual metrics to find the right fit.
French American School of Denver
Westerly Creek Elementary
Rocky Mountain Prep Creekside
Score Distribution
Where the top 25 schools fall on a 1-10 scale
How We Ranked Denver's Elementary Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 with weights that vary by school level: Student Growth tracks improvement over time and counts most in elementary and middle grades. Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement measures standardized test performance in math and reading against socioeconomic expectations. Environment considers class size, spending, and attendance. College Readiness joins the composite for high schools. Equity data is shown for context but is not factored into the score. All scores are computed within Colorado so schools are compared to peers in the same state. See our full methodology.
Top 25 of 146 Rankings
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | French American School of Denver Charter School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 9.5 |
| 2 | Westerly Creek Elementary School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 9.4 |
| 3 | Rocky Mountain Prep Creekside Charter School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 9.3 |
| 4 | Willow Elementary School School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 9.3 |
| 5 | Inspire Elementary School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 9.3 |
| 6 | Mckinley-thatcher Elementary School School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 9.2 |
| 7 | Steele Elementary School School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 9.2 |
| 8 | Slavens K-8 School School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 9.2 |
| 9 | Denver Language School Charter School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 9.2 |
| 10 | Cory Elementary School School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 9.1 |
| 11 | Edison Elementary School School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 9.1 |
| 12 | Park Hill School School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 9.1 |
| 13 | Steck Elementary School School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 9.1 |
| 14 | Swigert International School School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 9.1 |
| 15 | Challenge School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | 9.0 |
| 16 | Valdez Elementary School School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 9.0 |
| 17 | Polaris Elementary School School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 9.0 |
| 18 | William (bill) Roberts Ece-8 School School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 9.0 |
| 19 | Carson Elementary School School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 8.9 |
| 20 | Teller Elementary School School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 8.9 |
| 21 | University Park Elementary School School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 8.8 |
| 22 | Creativity Challenge Community School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 8.8 |
| 23 | Brown International Academy School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 8.7 |
| 24 | Centennial a School for Expeditionary Learning School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 8.7 |
| 25 | Isabella Bird Community School School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | 8.7 |
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Colorado education department. Rankings are relative to all public elementary schools in Colorado. Learn about our methodology.
Map: Top 25 Elementary Schools in Denver
Pins are color-coded by score: green (7+), yellow (4-6.9), red (below 4). Click a pin for details.
School Spotlights: Denver's Top 10 Elementary Schools
French American School of Denver
Rocky Mountain Prep Creekside
Mckinley-thatcher Elementary School
Choosing the Right Elementary School in Denver
Rankings identify schools with the strongest measurable outcomes, but the right school for your family depends on more than a number. Denver's elementary school landscape is one of the most diverse in Colorado, with 163 schools spanning 10 school districts, plus 21 charter schools offering alternative approaches.
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best elementary school in Denver, Colorado?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, French American School of Denver is the top-rated elementary school in Denver with a composite score of 9.5/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
How many elementary schools are in Denver, Colorado?
Denver has 163 elementary schools, including 21 charter schools. Of these, 150 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average elementary school rating in Denver?
The average composite score for Denver elementary schools is 6.5/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Colorado).
How does MySchoolScout rate elementary schools?
Each school receives a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within Colorado, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in Colorado, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the Denver elementary school rankings?
Yes. Denver has 21 charter elementary schools, and they are ranked alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.