Excellent
#125 of 1,815 schools in CO
Top 7% in state
Challenge School
Elementary School · Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah
9659 EAST MISSISSIPPI AVENUE, Denver, CO 80231
Enrollment
563
Student-Teacher
16.6:1
Score
8.4
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
563
Student-Teacher
16.6:1
Score
8.4
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Denver
#25 of 222
public schools
Colorado elementary schools
#107 of 1,006
In district
#9 of 70
Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah
Academic performance
10.0 / 10
Exceptional
About Challenge School
Challenge School is a public elementary school in Denver, CO, part of the Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah. The school serves approximately 563 students in grades Pre-K – 8th with a student-teacher ratio of 16.6:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.4/10, placing it in the 93.2th percentile among CO schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 89% proficiency in math, 51 points above the state average and 90% in reading/language arts, 44 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (8.2/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $73,961, where 50% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a large city setting.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Challenge School — Students at Challenge School score 91% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 53%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
18.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CO CMAS (2024-25)
Based on 19 test records from CO state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 8.2/10.
How Challenge School Compares
See how Challenge School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 85% (2019) to 90.87% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 88% (2019) to 91.33% (2025).
Location
9659 EAST MISSISSIPPI AVENUE, Denver, CO 80231
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Challenge School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Rocky Mountain Prep Creekside (rated 8.0/10, 1.7 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF DENVER (rated 7.8/10, 2.0 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Aurora Academy Charter School (rated 6.7/10, 1.5 miles away, in nearby Aurora), a more accessible option. For more schools in Denver, see our Denver schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| THREE BEARS LEARNING CENTER Denver | 0.5 mi | — |
| AMERICAN GLOBAL ACADEMY Denver | 1.0 mi | 3.9 |
| Highline Community Elementary School Aurora | 1.0 mi | 6.5 |
| Lotus School for Excellence Aurora | 1.3 mi | 5.4 |
| Aurora Academy Charter School Aurora | 1.5 mi | 6.7 |
| Ponderosa Elementary School Aurora | 1.4 mi | 5.0 |
| Lowry Elementary School Denver | 1.5 mi | 5.1 |
| Village East Community Elementary School Aurora | 1.4 mi | 4.7 |
| Rocky Mountain Prep Creekside Denver | 1.7 mi | 8.0 |
| DENVER JEWISH DAY SCHOOL Denver | 1.9 mi | 8.6 |
| BISHOP MACHEBEUF HIGH SCHOOL Denver | 1.9 mi | 7.2 |
| New America School - Aurora Aurora | 2.0 mi | 5.8 |
| Place Bridge Academy Denver | 1.7 mi | 6.4 |
| Lansing Elementary Community School Aurora | 2.0 mi | 5.8 |
| Fulton Academy of Excellence Aurora | 2.1 mi | 5.4 |
| INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF DENVER Denver | 2.0 mi | 7.8 |
| PRIMROSE SCHOOL AT LOWRY Denver | 2.0 mi | — |
| MT. OLIVE LUTHERAN Aurora | 2.0 mi | — |
| Vanguard Classical School - West Denver | 2.3 mi | 6.2 |
| Denver Green School Southeast Denver | 1.9 mi | 3.6 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 80231 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$73,961
Median Home Value
$489,900
Median Rent
$1,727/mo
Population
35,297
College Educated
50.1%
Homeownership
38.5%
Avg Commute
25.6 min
Poverty Rate
14.8%
Median Age
34
Community Profile
The community surrounding Challenge School has a median household income of $73,961. It is a well-educated community where 50% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $489,900, with a median rent of $1,727/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.8%. The average commute for residents is 26 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 |
|---|---|
| Chatfield Elementary School Grand Junction, CO | 8.4 |
| Erie Elementary School Erie, CO | 8.4 |
| Franktown Elementary School Franktown, CO | 8.4 |
| Global Village Academy - Douglas County Parker, CO | 8.4 |
| Homestead Elementary School Centennial, CO | 8.4 |
| Laurel Elementary School Fort Collins, CO | 8.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Challenge School
What grades does Challenge School serve?
Challenge School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Challenge School?
Challenge School has an enrollment of approximately 563 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Challenge School?
The student-teacher ratio at Challenge School is 16.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Challenge School rank in CO?
Challenge School is ranked #125 out of 1,815 schools in CO.
What is Challenge School's MySchoolScout rating?
Challenge School has a composite rating of 8.4 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 Challenge School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Challenge School has 88.6% math proficiency and 89.7% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Challenge School a charter school?
No, Challenge School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Challenge School a Title I school?
No, Challenge School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Challenge School?
18.8% of students at Challenge 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.
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 52 Somewhat Walkable
- Transit Score
- 41 Some Transit
- Bike Score
- 64 Bikeable
- City Safety
- High (5,773/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Denver). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 563
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 34
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 18.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Arapahoe County
- Phone
- (720) 747-2100
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah- District Enrollment
- 51,808
- Schools in District
- 70
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $15,158
- District Rank
- #9 of 70
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 methodologyRelated reading
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