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Very Good

#530 of 1,815 schools in CO

Top 29% in state

Barney Ford Elementary School

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

14500 MAXWELL PLACE, Denver, CO 80239

Enrollment

464

Student-Teacher

15.5:1

Score

7.4

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Colorado schools

#530 of 1,815

In Denver

#82 of 222

public schools

In district

#78 of 196

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

Academic growth

9.2 / 10

Excellent

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Barney Ford Elementary School

7.4/10

Elementary School in Denver · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Marie L. Greenwood Academy

4.8/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Escalante-biggs Academy

7.5/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Barney Ford Elementary School

Barney Ford Elementary School is a public elementary school in Denver, CO, part of School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C. Barney Ford Elementary School serves approximately 464 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Barney Ford Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and ranks #530 of 1,815 schools in CO.

Structured state assessment records for Barney Ford Elementary School show 20% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025) and 23% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025).

How it compares0.6 pts above district
  • This school 7.4 · Very Good
  • District avg 6.8
  • CO avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

38% of students at Barney Ford Elementary School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.2Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-1.26 pts/yr
Data Period2012–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics4.5Below Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency13.3% (2025 CMAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency16.8% (2025 CMAS)
Math vs. State Avg-22.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-28.1 pts
Overall Proficiency15% (2025 CMAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)15% (model expectation from 2025 CMAS)
vs. Expected+0.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile27th
Resources & Environment7.2Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,206
Chronic Absenteeism37.7%

Barney Ford Elementary School — Students at Barney Ford Elementary School score 15% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 15%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

94.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CO CMAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 19.8% (multi-year average, 2012-2025)
School
State
39.5% (2025 CMAS)
ELA Proficiency 23.0% (multi-year average, 2012-2025)
School
State
44.9% (2025 CMAS)

Based on 29 test records from CO state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2012
Math
35%
ELA
27%
2013
Math
42%
ELA
26%
2014
Math
17%
ELA
18%
2015
Math
25%
ELA
25%
2016
Math
29%
ELA
35%
2017
Math
25%
ELA
29%
2018
Math
21%
ELA
30%
2019
Math
21%
ELA
30%
2020*
Math
7.5%
ELA
17%
2021*
Math
7.5%
ELA
17%
2022
Math
14%
2025
Math
13.4%
ELA
16.9%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.2/10.

How Barney Ford Elementary School Compares

See how Barney Ford Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.4/10
71th percentile in CO
Academic
4.5/10
Below Average
Growth
9.2/10
Excellent
Environment
7.2/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
95%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
30 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
37.7%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

14500 MAXWELL PLACE, Denver, CO 80239

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Barney Ford Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Escalante-Biggs Academy (rated 7.5/10, 0.4 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Oakland Elementary (rated 7.5/10, 1.0 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Monarch Montessori (rated 7.5/10, 1.8 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Denver, see our Denver schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Marie L. Greenwood Academy Denver 0.4 mi 4.8
Escalante-Biggs Academy Denver 0.4 mi 7.5
Maxwell Elementary School Denver 0.8 mi 4.7
Lena Archuleta Elementary School Denver 0.7 mi 6.8
Montbello High School Denver 0.7 mi 4.9
Oakland Elementary Denver 1.0 mi 7.5
Rocky Mountain Prep Noel Denver 0.9 mi 5.2
Montbello Middle School Denver 0.9 mi 3.2
Farrell B. Howell ECE-8 School Denver 1.4 mi 5.1
McGlone Academy Denver 1.4 mi 5.1
John H. Amesse Elementary Denver 1.4 mi 2.6
Montbello Career and Technical High School Denver 1.6 mi 6.0
Monarch Montessori Denver 1.8 mi 7.5
Academy 360 Denver 2.0 mi 7.1
DSST: Green Valley Ranch High School Denver 2.0 mi 8.8
DSST: Green Valley Ranch Middle School Denver 2.0 mi 7.9
Vista Academy Denver 2.0 mi 5.0
Rocky Mountain Prep Green Valley Ranch Denver 2.1 mi 6.4
SOAR at Green Valley Ranch Denver 2.1 mi 6.6
KIPP Northeast Denver Leadership Academy Denver 2.1 mi 6.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 80239 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$86,661

Median Home Value

$394,500

Median Rent

$1,903/mo

Population

44,077

College Educated

18.4%

Homeownership

58.9%

Avg Commute

27.2 min

Poverty Rate

12.1%

Median Age

32.7

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Bennett Elementary School Fort Collins, CO 7.4
Coronado Elementary School Littleton, CO 7.4
Leawood Elementary School Littleton, CO 7.4
Mountain View Elementary School Colorado Springs, CO 7.4
Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen Evergreen, CO 7.4
Belleview Elementary School Greenwood Village, CO 7.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Barney Ford Elementary School

What grades does Barney Ford Elementary School serve?

Barney Ford Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Barney Ford Elementary School?

Barney Ford Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 464 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Barney Ford Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Barney Ford Elementary School is 15.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Barney Ford Elementary School rank in CO?

Barney Ford Elementary School ranks #530 of 1,815 schools in CO.

What is Barney Ford Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Barney Ford Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Barney Ford Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Barney Ford Elementary School has 20% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025) and 23% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025).

Is Barney Ford Elementary School a charter school?

No, Barney Ford Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Barney Ford Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Barney Ford Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Barney Ford Elementary School?

94.8% of students at Barney Ford Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
46 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
38 Some Transit
Bike Score
54 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
464
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
30
Free/Reduced Lunch
94.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Denver County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
37.7%

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