Best Schools in Centennial, Colorado
28 schools · 19 Elementary · 1 Middle · 6 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Centennial?
Use this page to compare every school in Centennial 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.
Walnut Hills Community Elementary School
Elementary · Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the County of Arapah. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Willow Creek Elementary School
Elementary · Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the County of Arapah. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Trails West Elementary School
Elementary · Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the County of Arapah. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Centennial for 2026 are Walnut Hills Community Elementary School (9.2/10), Willow Creek Elementary School (9.2/10), and Trails West Elementary School (9.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 23 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
28
24 public · 4 private
Avg Score
7.2
out of 10
Median Home
$678,150
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
28
24 public · 4 private
Avg Score
7.2
out of 10
Median Home
$678,150
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 9.2/10 despite 35% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.2 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 Centennial schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Centennial
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 23 rated schools; 28 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walnut Hills Community Elementary School | 9.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Willow Creek Elementary School | 9.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Trails West Elementary School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Sandburg Elementary School | 9.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Homestead Elementary School | 8.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Hopkins Elementary School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Newton Middle School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Heritage Elementary School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Lois Lenski Elementary School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Timberline Elementary School | 7.8 / 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
- 7.2/10
- Median household income
- $127,721
- Median home value
- $678,150
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 62%
- Avg commute
- 25 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 75%
59% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Centennial compares
Colorado rank
#17 of 126
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.8
above Colorado avg (6.4)
Median household income
$128k
148% of Colorado median
Schools in this city
27
Cherry Creek School District No. 5 In the County of Arapah runs 67% of Centennial's public schools
Centennial touches 2 districts, but Cherry Creek School District No. 5 In the County of Arapah is the one most addresses actually attend.
Cherry Creek School District No. 5 In the County of Arapah accounts for 16 of 24 public schools (67%). The other 1 district holds the remaining 8.
Among 23 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.8 to 9.2 — the spread is inside Centennial, not a citywide average.
- Cherry Creek School District No. 5 In the County of Arapah16 public · 67%
- Littleton School District No. 6 In the County of Arapahoe8 public · 33%
About Schools in Centennial, Colorado
Centennial, Colorado offers one of the stronger public school landscapes along the Front Range. The city's 24 ranked public schools average 7.5 out of 10 — a ceiling well above most comparable suburban markets — and 17 of those 24 schools, or 71%, score 7 or higher. Parents choosing Centennial are not hunting for a single standout institution; they're selecting from a deep, consistently high-performing field.
The elementary tier drives much of that strength. Gudy Gaskill Elementary leads all 24 schools with a 9.1 — the highest score in the city — followed closely by Ford Elementary at 8.9, Homestead Elementary School at 8.8, and Creekside Elementary School at 8.6. Four elementary schools clearing 8.5 in the same city is unusual, and it signals that early-grade instruction across Centennial is genuinely competitive, not just concentrated in one magnet program or attendance zone. The middle school pipeline holds up: Newton Middle School also scores 8.6, meaning families are not trading a strong elementary experience for a weak transition year.
The 71% above-7.0 rate is the practical number parents should carry into their search. It means most attendance-zone assignments land in a school that performs well — not just adequately. For families with some flexibility in where they live within the city, the gap between a median-zone school and a top-zone school is real but not dramatic. That's a very different calculus from cities where performance is bimodal: a handful of elite schools surrounded by a long tail of low scorers.
Practical takeaway: if you're moving to Centennial primarily for schools, the floor is already high enough that neighborhood fit and commute logistics can drive your home search more than school-zone optimization alone. If you want the absolute ceiling, target the northern and central elementary zones where Gudy Gaskill and Ford sit, and verify middle school feeder patterns before signing a lease. The data here gives families unusual flexibility — and confidence.
Elementary Schools
19 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 344 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.2 |
| 2 | 502 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.2 |
| 3 | 423 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.1 |
| 4 | 499 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.0 |
| 5 | 338 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.9 |
| 6 | 358 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.5 |
| 7 | 326 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.3 |
| 8 | 503 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.2 |
| 9 | 506 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.8 |
| 10 | 607 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.8 |
Show all 19 elementary schools in Centennial
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 784 students · 6th–8th | 8.5 |
High Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,781 students · 9th–12th | 7.3 | ||
| 2 | 2,988 students · 9th–12th | 6.4 | ||
| 3 | 277 students · 6th–12th | 5.5 | ||
| 4 | 36 students · 5th–12th | 5.3 | ||
| 5 | 285 students · 9th–12th | 4.8 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 76 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 323 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.3 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Anastasis AcademyPrivate 38 students · UG–UG | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Centennial
Centennial, Colorado · 28 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 6 ZIP codes
Median Income
$127,721
Median Home Value
$678,150
Median Rent
$2,063/mo
Population
256,642
College Educated
62%
Homeownership
75%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Community Profile
Centennial has a median household income of $127,721. It is a well-educated community where 62% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $678,150, with a median rent of $2,063/month. The local poverty rate of 4.1% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Colorado
- Elementary
- 19
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 6
- Other
- 2
Resources
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 Centennial, Colorado
How many schools are in Centennial, Colorado?
Centennial has 28 schools, including 24 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Centennial, Colorado?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Centennial is 7.2 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 Centennial, Colorado?
The top-ranked school in Centennial on MySchoolScout is Walnut Hills Community Elementary School with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Centennial, Colorado?
The top-ranked elementary school in Centennial on MySchoolScout is Walnut Hills Community Elementary School with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Centennial, Colorado?
The top-ranked middle school in Centennial on MySchoolScout is Newton Middle School with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What is the best high school in Centennial, Colorado?
The top-ranked high school in Centennial on MySchoolScout is Arapahoe High School with a composite score of 7.3/10.
How many school districts serve Centennial, Colorado?
Centennial is served by 2 school districts: Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the County of Arapah, Littleton School District No. 6 in the County of Arapahoe.
What is the education level in Centennial, Colorado?
According to Census data, 62% of adults in Centennial have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Centennial, Colorado?
The median household income in Centennial is approximately $127,721 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Centennial, Colorado?
Yes, Centennial has 4 private schools alongside 24 public schools. The top-rated private school is Chesterton Academy of Our Lady of Victory with a score of 7.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Centennial, Colorado?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Centennial is 17.5:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Centennial, 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.