6.5 avg / 10

Best Schools in Denver, Colorado

277 schools · 163 Elementary · 34 Middle · 63 High · 17 Other

Last updated: May 2026

Public: 226

Private: 51

Districts: 10

Avg Rating: 6.5/10

Estimated Scores: 17%

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 6.5/10
Median household income: $92,942
Median home value: $595,660
Bachelor's degree or higher: 53%
Avg commute: 26 min
Owner-occupied homes: 52%

How Denver compares

Colorado rank

#52 of 125

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

+0.2

above Colorado avg (6.3)

Median household income

$93k

108% of Colorado median

Schools in this city

258

About Schools in Denver, Colorado

Denver's public school landscape spans 222 ranked schools, giving parents a wide field to evaluate. The city averages 6.2 out of 10 across all ranked schools — a solid baseline, though the range is wide. Thirty-six percent of Denver schools, 81 in total, score 7 or higher, meaning strong options exist across multiple neighborhoods rather than clustering in one corner of the city.

At the top of the performance range, DSST: Conservatory Green High School leads with a 9.4 rating, the highest score in the city. Three elementary schools match that mark: Inspire Elementary and French American School of Denver each score 9.4, while Edison Elementary School posts a 9.3. Valdez Elementary School rounds out the top tier at 9.1. The concentration of high performers at the elementary level is notable — parents of younger children have multiple top-tier options to target, and competition for seats at these schools can be significant.

Denver operates as a school choice district, which directly shapes how parents should approach their search. Attendance boundaries matter less here than in traditional districts. Families can apply to charter schools, innovation schools, and magnet programs across the city regardless of home address. That flexibility is a genuine advantage, but it also means the search process is more active — enrollment periods, application deadlines, and lottery systems require parents to plan six to twelve months ahead.

The 64% of schools that score below 7 spans a real performance gap. Parents comparing neighborhood schools should look beyond the overall score at growth data and demographic equity metrics, since some lower-rated schools serve high-need populations and outperform their raw score on student progress measures. The 36% of schools at 7 or above gives Denver a credible tier of strong performers, but locating them requires deliberate research rather than defaulting to the nearest school. Start with the top-rated schools in your priority grade level, check their lottery timelines, and treat the school choice calendar as a hard deadline.

Filter by Level: All Levels (277) Elementary (163) Middle (34) High (63)

Filter by Type: All Types (277) Public (226) Private (51)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (277) Academics (277) Growth (210) Diversity (216) Resources (224)

Filter by ZIP: 80219 (26) 80205 (22) 80221 (20) 80220 (19) 80239 (18) 80204 (17) 80249 (17) 80210 (14) 80211 (13) 80238 (12) 80223 (11) 80209 (9)

Elementary Schools

163 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	French American School of Denver 189 students · Kindergarten–5th	189	Kindergarten–5th	9.3
2	Edison Elementary School 553 students · Pre-K–5th	553	Pre-K–5th	8.9
3	Valdez Elementary School 412 students · Pre-K–5th	412	Pre-K–5th	8.9
4	Inspire Elementary 629 students · Pre-K–5th	629	Pre-K–5th	8.9
5	Centennial A School for Expeditionary Learning 444 students · Pre-K–5th	444	Pre-K–5th	8.8
6	Palmer Elementary School 196 students · Pre-K–5th	196	Pre-K–5th	8.8
7	Goldrick Elementary School 328 students · Pre-K–5th	328	Pre-K–5th	8.7
8	Gust Elementary School 560 students · Pre-K–5th	560	Pre-K–5th	8.7
9	Westerly Creek Elementary 673 students · Pre-K–5th	673	Pre-K–5th	8.7
10	Doull Elementary School 348 students · Pre-K–5th	348	Pre-K–5th	8.6
11	Rocky Mountain Prep Berkeley 327 students · Pre-K–5th	327	Pre-K–5th	8.6
12	Brown International Academy 518 students · Pre-K–5th	518	Pre-K–5th	8.5
13	McKinley-Thatcher Elementary School 276 students · Pre-K–5th	276	Pre-K–5th	8.5
14	Sabin World School 555 students · Pre-K–5th	555	Pre-K–5th	8.5
15	Teller Elementary School 558 students · Pre-K–5th	558	Pre-K–5th	8.5
16	Denver Center for International Studies at Fairmon 355 students · Pre-K–5th	355	Pre-K–5th	8.5
17	Challenge School 563 students · Pre-K–8th	563	Pre-K–8th	8.4
18	Park Hill School 667 students · Pre-K–5th	667	Pre-K–5th	8.4
19	Stedman Elementary School 432 students · Pre-K–5th	432	Pre-K–5th	8.3
20	Trevista at Horace Mann 447 students · Pre-K–5th	447	Pre-K–5th	8.3
21	Columbine Elementary School 321 students · Pre-K–5th	321	Pre-K–5th	8.2
22	Lincoln Elementary School 315 students · Pre-K–6th	315	Pre-K–6th	8.2
23	Steck Elementary School 306 students · Pre-K–5th	306	Pre-K–5th	8.2
24	University Park Elementary School 393 students · Kindergarten–5th	393	Kindergarten–5th	8.2
25	Odyssey School of Denver 307 students · Kindergarten–8th	307	Kindergarten–8th	8.1

Show 138 more elementary schools

26	Willow Elementary School 565 students · Pre-K–5th	565	Pre-K–5th	8.1
27	Steele Elementary School 444 students · Kindergarten–5th	444	Kindergarten–5th	8.0
28	William (Bill) Roberts ECE-8 School 851 students · Kindergarten–8th	851	Kindergarten–8th	8.0
29	Denver Language School 924 students · Kindergarten–8th	924	Kindergarten–8th	8.0
30	Rocky Mountain Prep Creekside 599 students · Pre-K–5th	599	Pre-K–5th	8.0
31	Bradley International School 577 students · Pre-K–5th	577	Pre-K–5th	7.9
32	Slavens K-8 School 750 students · Kindergarten–8th	750	Kindergarten–8th	7.9
33	Creativity Challenge Community 295 students · Kindergarten–5th	295	Kindergarten–5th	7.8
34	Metropolitan Arts Academy 305 students · Pre-K–8th	305	Pre-K–8th	7.8
35	Sherrelwood Elementary School 199 students · Pre-K–5th	199	Pre-K–5th	7.8
36	Kaiser Elementary School 224 students · Pre-K–5th	224	Pre-K–5th	7.7
37	Polaris Elementary School 339 students · 1st–5th	339	1st–5th	7.6
38	Rocky Mountain Prep Ruby Hill 388 students · Kindergarten–5th	388	Kindergarten–5th	7.6
39	Asbury Elementary School 280 students · Kindergarten–5th	280	Kindergarten–5th	7.5
40	Holm Elementary School 484 students · Pre-K–5th	484	Pre-K–5th	7.5
41	Samuels Elementary School 477 students · Pre-K–5th	477	Pre-K–5th	7.5
42	Isabella Bird Community School 420 students · Pre-K–5th	420	Pre-K–5th	7.5
43	Downtown Denver Expeditionary School 243 students · Kindergarten–5th	243	Kindergarten–5th	7.4
44	Bromwell Elementary School 290 students · Pre-K–5th	290	Pre-K–5th	7.3
45	Johnson Elementary School 286 students · Pre-K–5th	286	Pre-K–5th	7.3
46	Denison Montessori School 349 students · Pre-K–6th	349	Pre-K–6th	7.3
47	Marie L. Greenwood Academy 601 students · Pre-K–8th	601	Pre-K–8th	7.3
48	Escalante-Biggs Academy 304 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	304	Pre-K–Kindergarten	7.3
49	Colfax Elementary School 257 students · Pre-K–5th	257	Pre-K–5th	7.2
50	Wyatt Academy 208 students · Kindergarten–5th	208	Kindergarten–5th	7.1
51	Swigert International School 653 students · Pre-K–5th	653	Pre-K–5th	7.1
52	University Prep - Steele St. 333 students · Pre-K–5th	333	Pre-K–5th	7.0
53	Trailside Academy 502 students · Pre-K–8th	502	Pre-K–8th	7.0
54	Hallett Academy 266 students · Pre-K–5th	266	Pre-K–5th	6.9
55	Farrell B. Howell ECE-8 School 597 students · Pre-K–8th	597	Pre-K–8th	6.9
56	Ellis Elementary School 380 students · Pre-K–5th	380	Pre-K–5th	6.8
57	Cole Arts and Science Academy 268 students · Pre-K–5th	268	Pre-K–5th	6.8
58	Federal Heights Elementary School 425 students · Pre-K–5th	425	Pre-K–5th	6.8
59	Academia Ana Marie Sandoval 385 students · Pre-K–6th	385	Pre-K–6th	6.6
60	Stephen Knight Center for Early Education 303 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	303	Pre-K–Kindergarten	6.6
61	Beach Court Elementary School 253 students · Pre-K–5th	253	Pre-K–5th	6.5
62	Bryant Webster Dual Language ECE-8 School 426 students · Pre-K–8th	426	Pre-K–8th	6.5
63	Oakland Elementary 301 students · Pre-K–5th	301	Pre-K–5th	6.5
64	Monarch Montessori 247 students · Kindergarten–5th	247	Kindergarten–5th	6.5
65	Castro Elementary School 231 students · Kindergarten–5th	231	Kindergarten–5th	6.4
66	Place Bridge Academy 816 students · Pre-K–8th	816	Pre-K–8th	6.4
67	Rocky Mountain Prep Southwest 431 students · Pre-K–5th	431	Pre-K–5th	6.4
68	KIPP Sunshine Peak Elementary 158 students · Pre-K–4th	158	Pre-K–4th	6.4
69	Green Valley Elementary School 719 students · Pre-K–5th	719	Pre-K–5th	6.3
70	Vanguard Classical School - West 365 students · Kindergarten–8th	365	Kindergarten–8th	6.2
71	Holly Hills Elementary School 509 students · Pre-K–5th	509	Pre-K–5th	6.2
72	Carson Elementary School 415 students · Pre-K–5th	415	Pre-K–5th	6.2
73	Schmitt Elementary School 182 students · Pre-K–5th	182	Pre-K–5th	6.2
74	Highline Academy Southeast 535 students · Kindergarten–8th	535	Kindergarten–8th	6.2
75	Valley View Innovation School 121 students · Pre-K–4th	121	Pre-K–4th	6.2
76	College View Elementary School 317 students · Pre-K–5th	317	Pre-K–5th	6.1
77	Highline Academy Northeast 593 students · Pre-K–5th	593	Pre-K–5th	6.1
78	North Star Elementary School 331 students · Pre-K–5th	331	Pre-K–5th	6.1
79	Garden Place Academy 378 students · Pre-K–6th	378	Pre-K–6th	6.0
80	Cory Elementary School 412 students · 1st–5th	412	1st–5th	5.9
81	Global Primary Academy 264 students · Pre-K–3rd	264	Pre-K–3rd	5.9
82	Newlon Elementary School 273 students · Pre-K–5th	273	Pre-K–5th	5.8
83	Grant Ranch ECE-8 School 296 students · Pre-K–8th	296	Pre-K–8th	5.8
84	Columbian Elementary School 171 students · Pre-K–5th	171	Pre-K–5th	5.7
85	Charles M. Schenck (CMS) Community School 332 students · Kindergarten–5th	332	Kindergarten–5th	5.7
86	Valverde Elementary School 347 students · Pre-K–5th	347	Pre-K–5th	5.7
87	Colorado Sports Leadership Academy 417 students · Pre-K–8th	417	Pre-K–8th	5.7
88	Whittier ECE-8 School 214 students · Pre-K–8th	214	Pre-K–8th	5.6
89	Knapp Elementary School 362 students · Pre-K–5th	362	Pre-K–5th	5.5
90	Dora Moore ECE-8 School 317 students · Pre-K–8th	317	Pre-K–8th	5.5
91	Orchard Park Academy 524 students · Pre-K–8th	524	Pre-K–8th	5.5
92	Smith Elementary School 466 students · Pre-K–5th	466	Pre-K–5th	5.4
93	Florida Pitt-Waller ECE-8 School 912 students · Pre-K–8th	912	Pre-K–8th	5.4
94	Force Elementary School 306 students · Pre-K–5th	306	Pre-K–5th	5.3
95	Southmoor Elementary School 394 students · Pre-K–5th	394	Pre-K–5th	5.3
96	Center for Talent Development at Greenlee 261 students · Pre-K–5th	261	Pre-K–5th	5.3
97	KIPP Northeast Elementary 477 students · Pre-K–4th	477	Pre-K–4th	5.3
98	Montclair School of Academics and Enrichment 342 students · Pre-K–5th	342	Pre-K–5th	5.2
99	Lowry Elementary School 392 students · Pre-K–5th	392	Pre-K–5th	5.1
100	Josephine Hodgkins Leadership Academy 560 students · Pre-K–8th	560	Pre-K–8th	5.1
101	Swansea Elementary School 384 students · Pre-K–5th	384	Pre-K–5th	5.0
102	Marrama Elementary School 506 students · Pre-K–5th	506	Pre-K–5th	5.0
103	Omar D Blair Charter School 748 students · Kindergarten–8th	748	Kindergarten–8th	5.0
104	McMeen Elementary School 630 students · Pre-K–5th	630	Pre-K–5th	4.9
105	McGlone Academy 835 students · Pre-K–8th	835	Pre-K–8th	4.9
106	University Prep - Arapahoe St. 285 students · Kindergarten–5th	285	Kindergarten–5th	4.9
107	Barney Ford Elementary School 464 students · Pre-K–5th	464	Pre-K–5th	4.9
108	Joe Shoemaker School 439 students · Pre-K–5th	439	Pre-K–5th	4.9
109	Ricardo Flores Magon Academy 254 students · Kindergarten–8th	254	Kindergarten–8th	4.8
110	Ashley Elementary School 347 students · Pre-K–5th	347	Pre-K–5th	4.8
111	Godsman Elementary School 325 students · Pre-K–5th	325	Pre-K–5th	4.8
112	International Academy of Denver at Harrington 161 students · Pre-K–5th	161	Pre-K–5th	4.8
113	Maxwell Elementary School 637 students · Pre-K–5th	637	Pre-K–5th	4.8
114	Lena Archuleta Elementary School 497 students · 1st–5th	497	1st–5th	4.8
115	Eagleton Elementary School 241 students · Pre-K–5th	241	Pre-K–5th	4.5
116	Cheltenham Elementary School 386 students · Pre-K–5th	386	Pre-K–5th	4.4
117	SOAR at Green Valley Ranch 492 students · Kindergarten–5th	492	Kindergarten–5th	4.4
118	Traylor Academy 307 students · Pre-K–5th	307	Pre-K–5th	4.3
119	Academy 360 231 students · Pre-K–5th	231	Pre-K–5th	4.3
120	Fairview PK-8 364 students · Pre-K–7th	364	Pre-K–7th	4.3
121	Munroe Elementary School 330 students · Pre-K–5th	330	Pre-K–5th	4.2
122	Cowell Elementary School 270 students · Pre-K–5th	270	Pre-K–5th	3.6
123	Denver Green School Southeast 549 students · Kindergarten–8th	549	Kindergarten–8th	3.6
124	Barnum Elementary School 324 students · Pre-K–5th	324	Pre-K–5th	3.5
125	John H. Amesse Elementary 370 students · Pre-K–5th	370	Pre-K–5th	3.3
126	Adventure Elementary 397 students · Pre-K–6th	397	Pre-K–6th	3.1
127	Monterey Community School 427 students · Kindergarten–8th	427	Kindergarten–8th	3.0
128	Welby Community School of the Arts 319 students · Pre-K–6th	319	Pre-K–6th	2.5
Private Schools 35 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	RICKS CENTER FOR GIFTED CHILDREN Private 153 students · Pre-K–8th	153	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
2	MONTESSORI ACADEMY OF COLORADO Private 75 students · Pre-K–6th	75	Pre-K–6th	Not Rated
3	INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF DENVER Private 574 students · Pre-K–8th	574	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
4	MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF DENVER Private 180 students · Pre-K–8th	180	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
5	STANLEY BRITISH PRIMARY SCHOOL Private 464 students · Kindergarten–8th	464	Kindergarten–8th	Not Rated
6	ST JAMES CATHOLIC SCHOOL Private 166 students · Pre-K–8th	166	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
7	ST ELIZABETH'S SCHOOL Private 138 students · Kindergarten–8th	138	Kindergarten–8th	Not Rated
8	ST JOHN'S LUTHERAN SCHOOL Private 215 students · Pre-K–8th	215	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
9	GRALAND COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Private 650 students · Pre-K–8th	650	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
10	ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC SCHOOL Private 121 students · Pre-K–8th	121	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
11	HILLEL ACADEMY Private 272 students · Kindergarten–8th	272	Kindergarten–8th	Not Rated
12	NOTRE DAME PARISH SCHOOL Private 187 students · Pre-K–8th	187	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
13	ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL Private 50 students · Pre-K–8th	50	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
14	GUARDIAN ANGELS Private 130 students · Pre-K–8th	130	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
15	MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD SCHOOL Private 315 students · Kindergarten–8th	315	Kindergarten–8th	Not Rated
16	CHRIST THE KING ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL Private 187 students · Pre-K–8th	187	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
17	ESCUELA DE GUADALUPE Private 190 students · Kindergarten–8th	190	Kindergarten–8th	Not Rated
18	ANNUNCIATION Private 162 students · Kindergarten–8th	162	Kindergarten–8th	Not Rated
19	BLESSED SACRAMENT PARISH SCHOOL Private 310 students · Pre-K–8th	310	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
20	GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL Private 407 students · Pre-K–8th	407	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
21	ST ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC ACADEMY Private 202 students · Pre-K–8th	202	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
22	ST VINCENT DE PAUL CATHOLIC SCHOOL Private 390 students · Pre-K–8th	390	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
23	MONTVIEW COMMUNITY PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN Private 20 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	20	Pre-K–Kindergarten	Not Rated
24	INNER-CITY SCHOOL Private 20 students · Pre-K–6th	20	Pre-K–6th	Not Rated
25	THREE BEARS LEARNING CENTER Private 12 students · Pre-K–TK	12	Pre-K–TK	Not Rated
26	CHILDRENS GARDEN MONTESSORI Private 8 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	8	Pre-K–Kindergarten	Not Rated
27	HOPE CENTER Private 8 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	8	Pre-K–Kindergarten	Not Rated
28	PADDINGTON STATION Private 18 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	18	Pre-K–Kindergarten	Not Rated
29	PRIMROSE SCHOOL AT LOWRY Private 18 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	18	Pre-K–Kindergarten	Not Rated
30	SOPHIA MONTESSORI ACADEMY Private 9 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	9	Pre-K–Kindergarten	Not Rated
31	HEARTLAND ACADEMY DENVER Private 13 students · Pre-K–7th	13	Pre-K–7th	Not Rated
32	L'ECOLE DE DENVER Private 18 students · Pre-K–7th	18	Pre-K–7th	Not Rated
33	THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF WASHINGTON PARK Private 5 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	5	Pre-K–Kindergarten	Not Rated
34	RABBI STEVEN FOSTER EARLY LEARNING CENTER Private 7 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	7	Pre-K–Kindergarten	Not Rated
35	ILIFF PRESCHOOL, INC. Private 15 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	15	Pre-K–Kindergarten	Not Rated

Middle Schools

34 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Denver Green School Northfield 540 students · 6th–8th	540	6th–8th	8.9
2	Girls Athletic Leadership School Middle School 203 students · 6th–8th	203	6th–8th	8.7
3	Morey Middle School 481 students · 6th–8th	481	6th–8th	8.4
4	Merrill Middle School 604 students · 6th–8th	604	6th–8th	8.3
5	Skinner Middle School 656 students · 6th–8th	656	6th–8th	8.1
6	Rocky Mountain Prep Westwood 380 students · 6th–8th	380	6th–8th	7.9
7	Lake Middle School 603 students · 6th–8th	603	6th–8th	7.6
8	KIPP Northeast Denver Middle School 471 students · 5th–8th	471	5th–8th	7.6
9	DSST: Cedar Middle School 479 students · 6th–8th	479	6th–8th	7.4
10	Rocky Mountain Prep Sunnyside 168 students · 6th–8th	168	6th–8th	7.3
11	Colorado Skies Academy 119 students · 6th–8th	119	6th–8th	7.1
12	Grant Beacon Middle School 335 students · 6th–8th	335	6th–8th	7.1
13	McAuliffe International School 1,371 students · 6th–8th	1,371	6th–8th	7.0
14	Rocky Mountain Prep Federal 380 students · 6th–8th	380	6th–8th	6.4
15	DSST: Green Valley Ranch Middle School 480 students · 6th–8th	480	6th–8th	6.4
16	Bear Valley International School 374 students · 6th–8th	374	6th–8th	6.4
17	DSST: Cole Middle School 268 students · 6th–8th	268	6th–8th	6.3
18	Rocky Mountain Prep Green Valley Ranch 361 students · 6th–8th	361	6th–8th	6.0
19	DSST: Montview Middle School 459 students · 6th–8th	459	6th–8th	5.8
20	DSST: Conservatory Green Middle School 463 students · 6th–8th	463	6th–8th	5.8
21	Compass Academy 200 students · 6th–8th	200	6th–8th	5.8
22	DSST: College View Middle School 460 students · 6th–8th	460	6th–8th	5.7
23	Kepner Beacon Middle School 462 students · 6th–8th	462	6th–8th	5.7
24	McAuliffe Manual Middle School 235 students · 6th–8th	235	6th–8th	5.6
25	Fort Logan Northgate 378 students · 3rd–8th	378	3rd–8th	5.5

Show 9 more middle schools

26	West Middle School 225 students · 6th–8th	225	6th–8th	5.4
27	Montbello Middle School 285 students · 6th–8th	285	6th–8th	5.4
28	Global Intermediate Academy 354 students · 4th–8th	354	4th–8th	5.3
29	KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy 364 students · 5th–8th	364	5th–8th	5.2
30	Rocky Mountain Prep Noel 258 students · 6th–8th	258	6th–8th	5.0
31	Hamilton Middle School 700 students · 6th–8th	700	6th–8th	4.6
32	Hill Campus of Arts and Sciences 612 students · 6th–8th	612	6th–8th	4.3
33	DSST: Elevate Northeast Middle School 452 students · 6th–8th	452	6th–8th	4.3
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	EINSTEIN ACADEMY Private 12 students · 1st–6th	12	1st–6th	Not Rated

High Schools

63 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	DSST: Conservatory Green High School 562 students · 9th–12th	562	9th–12th	9.6
2	DSST: College View High School 543 students · 9th–12th	543	9th–12th	9.1
3	George Washington High School 1,272 students · 9th–12th	1,272	9th–12th	8.7
4	Contemporary Learning Academy 132 students · 9th–12th	132	9th–12th	8.5
5	South High School 1,846 students · 9th–12th	1,846	9th–12th	8.5
6	Northfield High School 2,066 students · 9th–12th	2,066	9th–12th	8.5
7	Delta High School 105 students · 9th–12th	105	9th–12th	8.4
8	North High School 1,635 students · 9th–12th	1,635	9th–12th	8.2
9	John F Kennedy High School 707 students · 9th–12th	707	9th–12th	7.8
10	Prep Academy 41 students · 6th–12th	41	6th–12th	7.8
11	Girls Athletic Leadership School High School 93 students · 9th–12th	93	9th–12th	7.8
12	Denver School of the Arts 1,039 students · 6th–12th	1,039	6th–12th	7.6
13	Thomas Jefferson High School 1,375 students · 9th–12th	1,375	9th–12th	7.5
14	Colorado High School Charter 203 students · 9th–12th	203	9th–12th	7.5
15	Summit Academy 238 students · 6th–12th	238	6th–12th	7.5
16	Denver Justice High School 107 students · 9th–12th	107	9th–12th	7.4
17	DSST: Green Valley Ranch High School 565 students · 9th–12th	565	9th–12th	7.4
18	Denver Center for 21st-Century Learning at Wyman 143 students · 6th–12th	143	6th–12th	7.4
19	DSST: Montview High School 566 students · 9th–12th	566	9th–12th	7.3
20	5280 High School 92 students · 9th–12th	92	9th–12th	7.3
21	North High School Engagement Center 104 students · 9th–12th	104	9th–12th	7.2
22	DSST: Cedar High School 548 students · 9th–12th	548	9th–12th	7.2
23	Colorado High School Charter - GES 189 students · 9th–12th	189	9th–12th	7.2
24	East High School 2,359 students · 9th–12th	2,359	9th–12th	7.1
25	Montbello Career and Technical High School 133 students · 9th–12th	133	9th–12th	7.1

Show 38 more high schools

26	DSST: Cole High School 308 students · 9th–12th	308	9th–12th	7.0
27	KIPP Denver Collegiate High School 471 students · 9th–12th	471	9th–12th	6.9
28	Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design 94 students · 9th–12th	94	9th–12th	6.6
29	D'Evelyn Junior/Senior High School 1,197 students · 6th–12th	1,197	6th–12th	6.5
30	Florence Crittenton High School 97 students · 9th–12th	97	9th–12th	6.2
31	AUL Denver 151 students · 9th–12th	151	9th–12th	6.2
32	Northeast Early College 572 students · 9th–12th	572	9th–12th	6.2
33	RiseUp Community School 111 students · 9th–12th	111	9th–12th	6.2
34	Legacy Options High School 152 students · 9th–12th	152	9th–12th	6.2
35	Global Leadership Academy 378 students · 9th–12th	378	9th–12th	6.2
36	KIPP Northeast Denver Leadership Academy 559 students · 9th–12th	559	9th–12th	6.1
37	Compassion Road Academy 89 students · 9th–12th	89	9th–12th	6.0
38	Denver Center for International Studies 454 students · 6th–12th	454	6th–12th	5.9
39	Career Education Center Early College 467 students · 9th–12th	467	9th–12th	5.8
40	Emily Griffith High School 371 students · 9th–12th	371	9th–12th	5.6
41	Denver Montessori Junior/Senior High School 178 students · 6th–12th	178	6th–12th	5.6
42	Respect Academy 106 students · 9th–12th	106	9th–12th	5.3
43	Manual High School 362 students · 9th–12th	362	9th–12th	5.2
44	Montbello High School 1,095 students · 9th–12th	1,095	9th–12th	5.2
45	Vista Academy 273 students · 6th–12th	273	6th–12th	5.0
46	Rocky Mountain Prep SMART 565 students · 9th–12th	565	9th–12th	4.8
47	Excel Academy 264 students · 9th–12th	264	9th–12th	4.8
48	West High School 563 students · 9th–12th	563	9th–12th	4.7
49	Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College 1,022 students · 6th–12th	1,022	6th–12th	4.6
50	Bruce Randolph School 653 students · 6th–12th	653	6th–12th	4.6
51	Rocky Mountain Prep RISE 565 students · 9th–12th	565	9th–12th	4.6
52	Abraham Lincoln High School 992 students · 9th–12th	992	9th–12th	4.4
53	Denver Online 611 students · 6th–12th	611	6th–12th	3.1
54	Gilliam School 23 students · 5th–12th	23	5th–12th	—
55	Mountview Youth Service Center 16 students · 5th–12th	16	5th–12th	—
56	Performing Arts School on Broadway 146 students · 7th–12th	146	7th–12th	—
Private Schools 7 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	BISHOP MACHEBEUF HIGH SCHOOL Private 200 students · 9th–12th	200	9th–12th	Not Rated
2	BETH JACOB HIGH SCHOOL Private 48 students · 9th–12th	48	9th–12th	Not Rated
3	YESHIVA TORAS CHAIM HIGH SCHOOL Private 64 students · 9th–12th	64	9th–12th	Not Rated
4	MULLEN HIGH SCHOOL Private 765 students · 9th–12th	765	9th–12th	Not Rated
5	ARRUPE JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL Private 427 students · 9th–12th	427	9th–12th	Not Rated
6	AMERICAN GLOBAL ACADEMY Private 30 students · 10th–12th	30	10th–12th	Not Rated
7	ACCELERATED SCHOOLS Private 28 students · 5th–12th	28	5th–12th	Not Rated

Other Schools

17 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Sandra Todd-Williams Academy 120 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	120	Pre-K–Pre-K	7.2
2	Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy 44 students · 9th–11th	44	9th–11th	7.2
3	Pascual Ledoux Academy 215 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	215	Pre-K–Pre-K	7.1
4	DSST: Elevate Northeast High School 447 students · 9th–11th	447	9th–11th	7.0
5	Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning 379 students · Kindergarten–12th	379	Kindergarten–12th	6.0
6	Early Learning Center at Francis M. Day 57 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	57	Pre-K–Pre-K	5.9
7	The Cottage at Holly Ridge 76 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	76	Pre-K–Pre-K	5.0
8	Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy 789 students · Kindergarten–12th	789	Kindergarten–12th	3.5
9	Mapleton Online 171 students · Kindergarten–12th	171	Kindergarten–12th	—
Private Schools 8 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	DENVER JEWISH DAY SCHOOL Private 323 students · Kindergarten–12th	323	Kindergarten–12th	Not Rated
2	BANSBACH ACADEMY AT DENVER CHILDRENS HOME Private 41 students · 4th–12th	41	4th–12th	Not Rated
3	TENNYSON CENTER FOR CHILDREN AT CCH Private 30 students · 1st–12th	30	1st–12th	Not Rated
4	DENVER ACADEMY Private 415 students · 1st–12th	415	1st–12th	Not Rated
5	ROCK SOLID CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Private 75 students · Kindergarten–12th	75	Kindergarten–12th	Not Rated
6	DENVER ACADEMY OF TORAH Private 162 students · Kindergarten–12th	162	Kindergarten–12th	Not Rated
7	COLORADO ACADEMY Private 983 students · Pre-K–12th	983	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated
8	ROCK SOLID CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Private 82 students · Kindergarten–12th	82	Kindergarten–12th	Not Rated

Schools in Denver

Denver, Colorado · 277 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 30 ZIP codes

Median Income

$92,942

Median Home Value

$595,660

Median Rent

$1,776/mo

Population

887,239

College Educated

53%

Homeownership

52%

Avg Commute

26 min

Poverty Rate

10.7%

Community Profile

Denver has a median household income of $92,942. It is a well-educated community where 53% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $595,660, with a median rent of $1,776/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.7%. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Quick Facts

State: Colorado
Total Schools: 277
Elementary: 163
Middle: 34
High: 63
Districts: 10
Avg Rating: 6.5/10

Resources

🔍 Google "Denver schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Denver 📊 Niche Denver Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (10)

DENVER 1

1 school · 379 students

State Charter School Institute

44 schools · 19,593 students

Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A

58 schools · 38,178 students

Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah

70 schools · 51,808 students

School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C

197 schools · 88,258 students

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

148 schools · 74,251 students

Mapleton School District No. 1 in the county of Adams & St

20 schools · 7,016 students

Sheridan School District No. 2

5 schools · 1,058 students

Adams 12 Five Star Schools

54 schools · 34,998 students

Westminster Public Schools

18 schools · 7,631 students

Nearby Cities

Cherry Hills Village (1 school)

7 mi

Edgewater (3 schools)

6 mi

Englewood (27 schools)

8 mi

Federal Heights (1 school)

8 mi

Greenwood Village (10 schools)

9 mi

Commerce City (24 schools)

9 mi

Wheat Ridge (8 schools)

8 mi

Lakewood (54 schools)

9 mi

Northglenn (13 schools)

11 mi

Aurora (115 schools)

9 mi

Westminster (37 schools)

10 mi

Centennial (29 schools)

11 mi

Thornton (46 schools)

11 mi

Wheatridge (1 school)

9 mi

Arvada (37 schools)

10 mi

Other Major Cities in Colorado

Top metros statewide by school count.

Colorado Springs 197 schools Fort Collins 53 schools Pueblo 52 schools Littleton 52 schools Boulder 43 schools

Featured Rankings

See our in-depth rankings with interactive maps, score breakdowns, and school spotlights.

Best Elementary Schools in Denver Best Middle Schools in Denver Best High Schools in Denver

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Denver, Colorado

How many schools are in Denver, Colorado?

Denver has 277 schools, including 226 public and 51 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Denver, Colorado?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Denver is 6.5 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

What is the top-ranked school in Denver, Colorado?

The top-ranked school in Denver on MySchoolScout is Dsst: Conservatory Green High School with a composite score of 9.6/10.

What is the best elementary school in Denver, Colorado?

The top-ranked elementary school in Denver on MySchoolScout is French American School of Denver with a composite score of 9.3/10.

What is the best middle school in Denver, Colorado?

The top-ranked middle school in Denver on MySchoolScout is Denver Green School Northfield with a composite score of 8.9/10.

What is the best high school in Denver, Colorado?

The top-ranked high school in Denver on MySchoolScout is Dsst: Conservatory Green High School with a composite score of 9.6/10.

How many school districts serve Denver, Colorado?

Denver is served by 10 school districts: Denver 1, State Charter School Institute, Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the Counties of Adams and a, Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the County of Arapah, School District No. 1 in the County of Denver and State of C, Jefferson County School District No. R-1, Mapleton School District No. 1 in the County of Adams & St, Sheridan School District No. 2, Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Westminster Public Schools.

What is the education level in Denver, Colorado?

According to Census data, 53% of adults in Denver have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Denver, Colorado?

The median household income in Denver is approximately $92,942 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Denver, Colorado?

Yes, Denver has 51 private schools alongside 226 public schools. The top-rated private school is Denver Jewish Day School with a score of 8.6/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Denver, Colorado?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Denver is 13.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Denver, 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 based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.

Best Schools in Denver, Colorado

Family Snapshot

How Denver compares

About Schools in Denver, Colorado

Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

High Schools

Other Schools

Schools in Denver

Community Demographics

Community Profile

Quick Facts

Resources

Nearby Cities

Other Major Cities in Colorado

Featured Rankings

How We Rate Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

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