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Excellent

#71 of 1,815 schools in CO

Top 4% in state

Carson Elementary School

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

5420 EAST 1ST AVENUE, Denver, CO 80220

Enrollment

415

Student-Teacher

16:1

Score

8.9

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Colorado schools

#71 of 1,815

In Denver

#24 of 222

public schools

In district

#23 of 196

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

Equity

9.4 / 10

Excellent

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Carson Elementary School

8.9/10

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

Rabbi Steven Foster Early Learning Center

Nearby

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

Hillel Academy

6.3/10

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

About Carson Elementary School

Carson 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. Carson Elementary School serves approximately 415 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 16:1 student-teacher ratio. Carson Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 out of 10 and ranks #71 of 1,815 schools in CO.

Structured state assessment records for Carson Elementary School show 73% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.1 pts above district
  • This school 8.9 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.8
  • CO avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.7Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.97 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics9.3Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency60.7% (2025 CMAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency73.1% (2025 CMAS)
Math vs. State Avg+24.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+28.2 pts
Overall Proficiency67% (2025 CMAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)54% (model expectation from 2025 CMAS)
vs. Expected+12.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile90th
Resources & Environment8.7Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,206
Chronic Absenteeism19.8%

Carson Elementary School — Students at Carson Elementary School score 67% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 54%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

15.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CO CMAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 73.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
39.5% (2025 CMAS)
ELA Proficiency 77.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
44.9% (2025 CMAS)

Based on 35 test records from CO state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
92%
ELA
92%
2010
Math
97.5%
ELA
92%
2011
Math
92%
ELA
88%
2012
Math
92%
ELA
92%
2013
Math
88%
ELA
89%
2014
Math
65%
ELA
73%
2015
Math
72%
ELA
72%
2016
Math
65%
ELA
72%
2017
Math
73%
ELA
75%
2018
Math
77%
ELA
79%
2019
Math
77%
ELA
79%
2020*
Math
62%
ELA
62%
2021*
Math
62%
ELA
62%
2022
Math
62%
2025
Math
60.7%
ELA
73.1%

* 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: 8.7/10.

How Carson Elementary School Compares

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

Overall Score
8.9/10
96th percentile in CO
Academic
9.3/10
Excellent
Growth
8.7/10
Excellent
Environment
8.7/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
16%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
26 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
19.8%

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

5420 EAST 1ST AVENUE, Denver, CO 80220

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Carson Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Denver Language School (rated 9.2/10, 0.8 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Steck Elementary School (rated 9.1/10, 0.9 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Teller Elementary School (rated 8.9/10, 1.6 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Denver, see our Denver schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.8 mi
School Distance Rating
RABBI STEVEN FOSTER EARLY LEARNING CENTER Denver 0.1 mi
HILLEL ACADEMY Denver 0.6 mi 6.3
GRALAND COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Denver 0.6 mi 6.5
Hill Campus of Arts and Sciences Denver 0.7 mi 5.8
CHRIST THE KING ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL Denver 0.9 mi 5.7
Palmer Elementary School Denver 1.0 mi 8.1
George Washington High School Denver 0.9 mi 8.0
Denver Language School Denver 0.8 mi 9.2
Steck Elementary School Denver 0.9 mi 9.1
Delta High School Denver 1.0 mi 7.3
DENVER ACADEMY OF TORAH Denver 0.9 mi 7.1
Denver Green School Southeast Denver 1.1 mi 6.1
McMeen Elementary School Denver 1.3 mi 4.6
Montclair School of Academics and Enrichment Denver 1.4 mi 5.1
STANLEY BRITISH PRIMARY SCHOOL Denver 1.2 mi 7.0
EINSTEIN ACADEMY Denver 1.5 mi
ST JAMES CATHOLIC SCHOOL Denver 1.6 mi 6.8
Teller Elementary School Denver 1.6 mi 8.9
MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF DENVER Denver 1.9 mi 7.0
BANSBACH ACADEMY AT DENVER CHILDRENS HOME Denver 1.8 mi 7.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 80220 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$101,961

Median Home Value

$739,600

Median Rent

$1,621/mo

Population

36,311

College Educated

65.5%

Homeownership

57.8%

Avg Commute

24.6 min

Poverty Rate

9.1%

Median Age

38.1

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Cottonwood Creek Elementary School Englewood, CO 8.9
Dennison Elementary School Lakewood, CO 8.9
Devinny Elementary School Lakewood, CO 8.9
Encompass Heights Elementary School Colorado Springs, CO 8.9
Erie Elementary School Erie, CO 8.9
Heritage Elementary School Highlands Ranch, CO 8.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Carson Elementary School

What grades does Carson Elementary School serve?

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

How many students attend Carson Elementary School?

Carson Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 415 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Carson Elementary School?

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

How does Carson Elementary School rank in CO?

Carson Elementary School ranks #71 of 1,815 schools in CO.

What is Carson Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Carson Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 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 Carson Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Carson Elementary School has 73% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Carson Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Carson Elementary School a Title I school?

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

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

15.7% of students at Carson 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
60 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
38 Some Transit
Bike Score
76 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
415
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
Teachers (FTE)
26
Free/Reduced Lunch
15.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Denver County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
19.8%

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