Best Schools in Fort Collins, Colorado
53 schools · 32 Elementary · 7 Middle · 9 High · 5 Other
Choosing a school in Fort Collins?
Use this page to compare every school in Fort Collins 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.
Shepardson Elementary School
Elementary · Poudre School District R-1. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Zach Elementary School
Elementary · Poudre School District R-1. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Axis International Academy
Elementary · State Charter School Institute. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Fort Collins for 2026 are Shepardson Elementary School (9.1/10), Zach Elementary School (9.0/10), and Axis International Academy (8.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 49 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
53
45 public · 8 private
Avg Score
7.2
out of 10
Median Home
$561,360
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
53
45 public · 8 private
Avg Score
7.2
out of 10
Median Home
$561,360
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 8.5/10 despite 45% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.4 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 Fort Collins schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Fort Collins
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (49 of 53). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shepardson Elementary School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Zach Elementary School | 9.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Axis International Academy | 8.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Mcgraw Elementary School | 8.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Traut Core Elementary School | 8.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Werner Elementary School | 8.7 / 10 |
| 7 | Dunn Elementary School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Johnson Elementary School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Kruse Elementary School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 10 | O'dea Elementary School | 8.5 / 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
- $88,340
- Median home value
- $561,360
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 59%
- Avg commute
- 20 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 57%
63% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Fort Collins compares
Colorado rank
#26 of 125
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.0
above Colorado avg (6.2)
Median household income
$88k
102% of Colorado median
Schools in this city
49
About Schools in Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins runs 45 ranked public schools with an average score of 6.8 out of 10 — a solid baseline for a mid-sized Colorado city. Nearly half the schools clear the 7-point mark: 21 of 45, or 47%, score 7 or above. That means parents have a genuine spread of strong options here, not one standout school propping up a weak district.
The elementary tier leads the performance rankings. Shepardson Elementary School scores a 9.5 out of 10 — the highest in the city. O'Dea and Coyote Ridge both land at 9.2, followed by Riffenburgh at 8.6 and Putnam at 8.4. All five of the city's top-ranked schools are elementary. The gap between Shepardson's 9.5 and the city average of 6.8 spans nearly three points — a wide spread that signals real variation within the district, not just marginal differences.
That spread matters when choosing where to enroll. Families with younger children have a particularly strong set of targets. Attendance boundaries will determine access, so verifying your address against each school's zone is a required first step before committing to a neighborhood.
For any grade level, the practical move is to check individual school pages rather than rely on city-wide averages. The 47% above-7 rate suggests the district holds up broadly, but the top performers are concentrated at the elementary level. Parents researching middle or high school placements should sort by score within their grade range and cross-reference boundary maps. Fort Collins rewards parents who go school by school rather than district by district — the nearly three-point gap between the top school and the city average makes that effort worthwhile.
Elementary Schools
32 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 424 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.1 |
| 2 | 470 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.0 |
| 3 | 261 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.7 |
| 4 | 381 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.7 |
| 5 | 493 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.7 |
| 6 | 350 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.7 |
| 7 | 393 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.6 |
| 8 | 334 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.6 |
| 9 | 457 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.5 |
| 10 | 432 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.5 |
Show all 32 elementary schools in Fort Collins
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 766 students · 6th–8th | 8.5 |
| 2 | 769 students · 6th–8th | 7.6 |
| 3 | 724 students · 6th–8th | 7.1 |
| 4 | 549 students · 6th–8th | 7.0 |
| 5 | 550 students · 6th–8th | 6.7 |
| 6 | 564 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 |
| 7 | 419 students · 6th–8th | 5.0 |
High Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 163 students · 6th–12th | 8.3 | ||
| 2 | 1,968 students · 9th–12th | 8.0 | ||
| 3 | 2,056 students · 9th–12th | 7.4 | ||
| 4 | 1,902 students · 9th–12th | 7.2 | ||
| 5 | 1,572 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 | ||
| 6 | 967 students · 6th–12th | 6.2 | ||
| 7 | 143 students · 9th–12th | 4.6 | ||
| 8 | 251 students · 6th–12th | 3.7 | ||
| 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 | 11 students · 6th–12th | — | ||
Other Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,475 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.4 | ||
| 2 | 390 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.4 | ||
| 3 | 730 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 4 | 299 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 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 | Front Range Baptist Academy
Private
126 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.5 | ||
Schools in Fort Collins
Fort Collins, Colorado · 53 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 5 ZIP codes
Median Income
$88,340
Median Home Value
$561,360
Median Rent
$1,665/mo
Population
201,525
College Educated
59%
Homeownership
57%
Avg Commute
20 min
Poverty Rate
15.0%
Community Profile
Fort Collins has a median household income of $88,340. It is a well-educated community where 59% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $561,360, with a median rent of $1,665/month. The area has a poverty rate of 15.0%. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Colorado
- Elementary
- 32
- Middle
- 7
- High
- 9
- Other
- 5
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 Fort Collins, Colorado
How many schools are in Fort Collins, Colorado?
Fort Collins has 53 schools, including 45 public and 8 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Fort Collins, Colorado?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Fort Collins 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 Fort Collins, Colorado?
The top-ranked school in Fort Collins on MySchoolScout is Shepardson Elementary School with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in Fort Collins, Colorado?
The top-ranked elementary school in Fort Collins on MySchoolScout is Shepardson Elementary School with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Fort Collins, Colorado?
The top-ranked middle school in Fort Collins on MySchoolScout is Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What is the best high school in Fort Collins, Colorado?
The top-ranked high school in Fort Collins on MySchoolScout is Compass Community Collaborative School with a composite score of 8.3/10.
How many school districts serve Fort Collins, Colorado?
Fort Collins is served by 3 school districts: State Charter School Institute, Poudre School District R-1, Thompson School District R-2j.
What is the education level in Fort Collins, Colorado?
According to Census data, 59% of adults in Fort Collins have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Fort Collins, Colorado?
The median household income in Fort Collins is approximately $88,340 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Fort Collins, Colorado?
Yes, Fort Collins has 8 private schools alongside 45 public schools. The top-rated private school is Rivendell School of Northern Colorado with a score of 7.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Fort Collins, Colorado?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Fort Collins is 14.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Fort Collins, 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.