Best Schools in Brighton, Colorado
21 schools · 10 Elementary · 2 Middle · 5 High · 4 Other
Choosing a school in Brighton?
Use this page to compare every school in Brighton by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Eagle Ridge Academy
High · School District 27j. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Elmwood Baptist Academy
Other. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Horizon High School
High · Adams 12 Five Star Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Brighton for 2026 are Eagle Ridge Academy (8.3/10), Elmwood Baptist Academy (7.7/10), and Horizon High School (7.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 18 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
21
17 public · 4 private
Avg Score
4.7
out of 10
Median Home
$460,300
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
21
17 public · 4 private
Avg Score
4.7
out of 10
Median Home
$460,300
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 8.3/10 despite 39% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.6 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Brighton schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Brighton
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (18 of 21). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eagle Ridge Academy | 8.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Elmwood Baptist Academy | 7.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Horizon High School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Brighton High School | 5.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Foundations Academy | 5.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Prairie Vista Youth Service Center | 5.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Brighton Adventist Academy | 5.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Innovations & Options | 4.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Mary E Pennock Elementary School | 4.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Zion Lutheran School | 4.6 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 4.7/10
- Median household income
- $105,706
- Median home value
- $460,300
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 22%
- Avg commute
- 33 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 80%
15% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Brighton compares
Colorado rank
#114 of 125
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.6
below Colorado avg (6.2)
Median household income
$106k
122% of Colorado median
Schools in this city
20
About Schools in Brighton, Colorado
Brighton, Colorado has 17 ranked public schools, covering elementary through high school. The city's schools average a score of 5.0 out of 10 — a mid-range result that reflects consistent but unexceptional performance across most buildings. The gap between the city average and Brighton's strongest school is about 1.5 points, which means meaningful differences exist between individual schools but the overall ceiling isn't high.
Horizon High School leads Brighton with a score of 6.5 out of 10, sitting clearly above the 5.0 city average and at the top of the local options. Mary E. Pennock Elementary scores 6.4, giving families with younger children a comparably strong option at the elementary level. Eagle Ridge Academy rounds out the top tier at 6.1. Prairie Vista Youth Service Center and Bright Beginnings each score 6.0, though both carry program designations that place them outside the standard K–12 track.
The majority of Brighton's 17 schools cluster near that 5.0 city average. Parents looking for stronger performers will find them concentrated in that top group — Horizon, Pennock, and Eagle Ridge — while most other buildings perform at or near the midpoint. Brighton doesn't offer a uniformly strong school landscape; the spread within the city matters, and so does where a family's home address falls within attendance zones.
For practical planning, confirm attendance boundaries before choosing a neighborhood. Horizon High School's 6.5 score makes it a meaningful differentiator for families with high schoolers, but access depends on zoning. Pennock Elementary's 6.4 is Brighton's strongest elementary result, and families with young children should verify whether their address feeds into Pennock before assuming access. The 1.5-point gap between the city average and the top schools is wide enough to influence real outcomes — worth mapping before signing a lease or closing on a home.
Elementary Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 767 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.5 | ||
| 2 | 619 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.9 | ||
| 3 | 344 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.4 | ||
| 4 | 469 students · Pre-K–6th | 3.3 | ||
| 5 | 1,215 students · Pre-K–8th | 3.3 | ||
| 6 | 453 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.3 | ||
| 7 | 592 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.2 | ||
| 8 | 512 students · Pre-K–5th | 2.7 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Zion Lutheran School
Private
208 students · Pre-K–8th | 4.6 | ||
| 2 | Meadowlark Montessori School
Private
14 students · Pre-K–3rd | — | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 565 students · 6th–8th | 4.0 |
| 2 | 559 students · 6th–8th | 3.2 |
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 571 students · 9th–12th | 8.3 |
| 2 | 1,981 students · 9th–12th | 7.2 |
| 3 | 1,773 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 |
| 4 | 235 students · 6th–12th | 4.9 |
| 5 | 271 students · 6th–12th | 3.0 |
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 students · 4th–12th | 5.4 | ||
| 2 | 103 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 4.6 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Elmwood Baptist Academy
Private
80 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.7 | ||
| 2 | Brighton Adventist Academy
Private
49 students · Pre-K–10th | 5.2 | ||
Schools in Brighton
Brighton, Colorado · 21 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$105,706
Median Home Value
$460,300
Median Rent
$1,785/mo
Population
57,406
College Educated
22%
Homeownership
80%
Avg Commute
33 min
Poverty Rate
7.2%
Community Profile
Brighton has a median household income of $105,706. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $460,300, with a median rent of $1,785/month. The local poverty rate of 7.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 33 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Colorado
- Elementary
- 10
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 5
- Other
- 4
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Colorado
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Brighton, Colorado
How many schools are in Brighton, Colorado?
Brighton has 21 schools, including 17 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Brighton, Colorado?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Brighton is 4.7 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Brighton, Colorado?
The top-ranked school in Brighton on MySchoolScout is Eagle Ridge Academy with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Brighton, Colorado?
The top-ranked elementary school in Brighton on MySchoolScout is Foundations Academy with a composite score of 5.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Brighton, Colorado?
The top-ranked middle school in Brighton on MySchoolScout is Vikan Middle School with a composite score of 4.0/10.
What is the best high school in Brighton, Colorado?
The top-ranked high school in Brighton on MySchoolScout is Eagle Ridge Academy with a composite score of 8.3/10.
How many school districts serve Brighton, Colorado?
Brighton is served by 2 school districts: School District 27j, Adams 12 Five Star Schools.
What is the education level in Brighton, Colorado?
According to Census data, 22% of adults in Brighton have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Brighton, Colorado?
The median household income in Brighton is approximately $105,706 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Brighton, Colorado?
Yes, Brighton has 4 private schools alongside 17 public schools. The top-rated private school is Elmwood Baptist Academy with a score of 7.7/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Brighton, Colorado?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Brighton is 15.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Brighton, Colorado?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Colorado Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.