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Average

#880 of 1,815 schools in CO

Top 48% in state

Castro Elementary School

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

845 SOUTH LOWELL BOULEVARD, Denver, CO 80219

Enrollment

231

Student-Teacher

13.6:1

Score

6.4

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Denver

#111 of 222

public schools

Colorado elementary schools

#551 of 1,006

In district

#104 of 196

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

School environment

8.9 / 10

Exceptional

About Castro Elementary School

Castro Elementary School is a public elementary school located in the heart of Denver, Colorado. Serving kindergarten through fifth grade students, Castro Elementary has an enrollment of 231 pupils and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 13.6:1 with 17 full-time equivalent teachers. The school's academic performance reflects room for improvement, as indicated by its MySchoolScout rating of 3.5 out of 10 and state ranking of #1487 out of 1831 schools in Colorado.

In terms of proficiency rates, 16% of students are proficient or above in ELA/Reading, while 17% reach this benchmark in Math. Despite the current academic challenges, Castro Elementary is deeply embedded within a large city setting where it focuses on supporting student development and community engagement. The school's location offers diverse opportunities for learning beyond the classroom, such as cultural events and local resources that enrich its educational offerings.

What Parents Should Know

While current test scores at Castro Elementary School are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.1Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data4
Annual Change+0.14 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendStable
Academics3.7Fair30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency14.7%
Reading/ELA Proficiency8.4%
Math vs. State Avg-21.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-36.5 pts
Overall Proficiency12%
Expected (poverty-adj.)15%
vs. Expected-3.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile18th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment8.9Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,336

Castro Elementary School — Students at Castro Elementary School score 12% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 15%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

93.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CO CMAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 17.2%
School
State
39.3%
ELA Proficiency 16.5%
School
State
44.9%

Based on 8 test records from CO state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2019
Math
14%
ELA
24%
2021*
Math
5%
ELA
17%
2022
Math
7.5%
2025
Math
29.7%
ELA
8.4%

* 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: 7.1/10.

How Castro Elementary School Compares

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

Overall Score
6.4/10
52th percentile in CO
Academic
3.7/10
3.7/10
Growth
7.1/10
Above average
Environment
8.9/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
94%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
17 teachers

Location

845 SOUTH LOWELL BOULEVARD, Denver, CO 80219

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Castro Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Goldrick Elementary School (rated 8.7/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Johnson Elementary School (rated 7.3/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Denison Montessori School (rated 7.3/10, 1.5 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Denver, see our Denver schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.4 mi
School Distance Rating
Munroe Elementary School Denver 0.4 mi 4.2
Kepner Beacon Middle School Denver 0.4 mi 5.7
Rocky Mountain Prep Southwest Denver 0.4 mi 6.4
Pascual Ledoux Academy Denver 0.5 mi 7.1
Charles M. Schenck (CMS) Community School Denver 0.6 mi 5.7
Rocky Mountain Prep Westwood Denver 0.6 mi 7.9
KIPP Sunshine Peak Elementary Denver 0.6 mi 6.4
Rocky Mountain Prep SMART Denver 0.6 mi 4.8
Knapp Elementary School Denver 0.7 mi 5.5
Barnum Elementary School Denver 1.2 mi 3.5
Force Elementary School Denver 1.1 mi 5.3
Johnson Elementary School Denver 1.3 mi 7.3
Brady Exploration School Lakewood 1.0 mi 5.8
Excel Academy Denver 1.3 mi 4.8
Goldrick Elementary School Denver 1.1 mi 8.7
Newlon Elementary School Denver 1.5 mi 5.8
Florence Crittenton High School Denver 1.4 mi 6.2
KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy Denver 1.3 mi 5.2
Denison Montessori School Denver 1.5 mi 7.3
Godsman Elementary School Denver 1.4 mi 4.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 80219 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$67,325

Median Home Value

$426,200

Median Rent

$1,464/mo

Population

60,095

College Educated

21.9%

Homeownership

57.7%

Avg Commute

27.2 min

Poverty Rate

18.2%

Median Age

34.3

Community Profile

The community surrounding Castro Elementary School has a median household income of $67,325. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $426,200, with a median rent of $1,464/month. The area has a poverty rate of 18.2%. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Avon Elementary School Avon, CO 6.4
Compass Montessori - Wheat Ridge Charter School Wheat Ridge, CO 6.4
Custer County Elementary School Westcliffe, CO 6.4
Harris Bilingual Elementary School Fort Collins, CO 6.4
KIPP Sunshine Peak Elementary Denver, CO 6.4
Mountain Song Community School Colorado Springs, CO 6.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Castro Elementary School

What grades does Castro Elementary School serve?

Castro Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Castro Elementary School?

Castro Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 231 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at Castro Elementary School is 13.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Castro Elementary School rank in CO?

Castro Elementary School is ranked #880 out of 1,815 schools in CO.

What is Castro Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Castro Elementary School has a composite rating of 6.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Castro Elementary School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Castro Elementary School has 17.2% math proficiency and 16.5% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Castro Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Castro Elementary School a Title I school?

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

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

93.5% of students at Castro 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

City Safety
High (5,773/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Denver). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
231
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
17
Free/Reduced Lunch
93.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Denver County
Data Year
2023–2024

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

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