Shepardson Elementary School vs O'Dea Elementary School
O'Dea Elementary School has a higher overall rating of 8.0/10 compared to 5.5/10. In math proficiency, Shepardson Elementary School leads at 52.0%.
Attendance data is under correction. A public school's existing Resources & Environment score and overall rating shown here may still reflect an unverified attendance input.
Shepardson Elementary School
Fort Collins, CO
424 students
O'Dea Elementary School
Fort Collins, CO
432 students
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| Metric | Shepardson Elementary School | O'Dea Elementary School |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 5.5 / 10 | 8.0 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 8.9 | 9.5 |
| Growth Score | 1.8 | 7.4 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 29.5% | 45.4% |
| Environment Score | 9.4 | 7.3 |
| State Rank | #1,294 of 1,829 | #279 of 1,829 |
| State Percentile | 29th | 85th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Shepardson Elementary School | O'Dea Elementary School |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 52.0% | 45.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 57.0% | 57.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Shepardson Elementary School | O'Dea Elementary School |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Pre-K – 5th | Kindergarten – 5th |
| Enrollment | 424 | 432 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 14.6:1 | 14.4:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 29.5% | 45.4% |
| District | Poudre School District R-1 | Poudre School District R-1 |
| City | Fort Collins | Fort Collins |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Fort Collins (80525) | Fort Collins (80525) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $93,349 | $93,349 |
| Median Home Value | $563,100 | $563,100 |
| Median Rent | $1,744 | $1,744 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 58.8% | 58.8% |
| Poverty Rate | 10.0% | 10.0% |
| Avg Commute | 19 min | 19 min |
The data story: Shepardson Elementary School vs O'Dea Elementary School
O'Dea Elementary School and Shepardson Elementary School sit 1.4 miles apart in Fort Collins, Colorado, yet their state rankings tell a striking story: Shepardson Elementary School holds the #2 spot out of 1,815 Colorado elementary schools, while O'Dea Elementary School ranks #25 — itself an exceptional position, but 23 places behind its crosstown neighbor. That gap translates to an overall rating difference of 0.3 points, with Shepardson at 9.5/10 and O'Dea at 9.2/10. Both schools sit at the very top of the state, but families prioritizing maximum academic prestige will find Shepardson the stronger option by this measure.
On academics and growth, the margins are narrow but consistent. Shepardson Elementary School scores 9.7/10 academically versus O'Dea Elementary School's 9.5/10 — a two-tenth edge. On growth, Shepardson scores 9.5/10 against O'Dea's 9.3/10. Neither gap is dramatic in isolation, but across both dimensions Shepardson holds the lead, suggesting its students are not only performing at a high level but also progressing at a slightly faster rate relative to their peers statewide.
The demographic and equity picture separates these schools more meaningfully. O'Dea Elementary School serves 45% of students on free or reduced-price lunch, compared to 30% at Shepardson Elementary School — a 15-percentage-point difference indicating O'Dea draws from a broader economic range of Fort Collins families. Enrollment is nearly identical: 432 students at O'Dea versus 424 at Shepardson. Student-teacher ratios are essentially a wash, 14.4:1 at O'Dea and 14.6:1 at Shepardson, so class size is not a differentiating factor.
One structural difference worth noting: Shepardson Elementary School serves grades PK–05, offering a pre-kindergarten entry point that O'Dea Elementary School does not — O'Dea begins at kindergarten. For families with a four-year-old seeking continuity within a single school, Shepardson provides that option. Both schools cap at fifth grade, so the transition to middle school happens at the same point regardless of which campus a family chooses.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Shepardson Elementary School
O'Dea Elementary School suits families who value a school with exceptional academics — top 2% in the state — and a more economically diverse student body. With 45% of students on free or reduced lunch, it offers a broader socioeconomic mix than Shepardson. Parents who want strong outcomes without the intense competition for a #2-ranked school, and who prefer a campus-wide kindergarten start over pre-K, will find O'Dea a compelling fit.
O'Dea Elementary School
Shepardson Elementary School is the better fit for families who want the highest-ranked option available — #2 in Colorado out of 1,815 schools — and who have a pre-kindergarten-age child they want to enroll immediately. The slightly stronger academic and growth scores, combined with a lower free-and-reduced-lunch rate, suggest a less economically diverse but academically elite environment. Parents for whom state rank is the primary criterion have a clear answer here.