Excellent
#251 of 1,815 schools in CO
Top 14% in state
Cougar Run Elementary School
Elementary School · Douglas County School District No. Re 1 · Highlands Ranch, CO
A Douglas County School District No. Re 1 elementary school where students score 14 points above what's typical for similar communities.
8780 VENNEFORD RANCH ROAD, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
- Math 60% vs CO 38% (2025)
- Reading 75% vs CO 45% (2025)
- 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Cougar Run Elementary School score 67% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 53%).
2025 CMAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CO average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 10 points since 2020, reaching 67% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 64% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 75% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 37 test records from CO state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
18.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Cougar Run Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Denver map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 29Car-Dependent
- Bike 58Bikeable
- County Safety: Elevated728/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$166,501
Median home value
$713,500
Median rent
$2,379/mo
College educated
69.5%
Homeownership
83.9%
Poverty rate
2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 80126; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platte River Charter AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 8.3 | PK–8 | 0.4 mi | 475 | Compare → |
| Primrose School at Shadow CanyonPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–K | 0.4 mi | 4 | Compare → |
| Sand Creek Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.8 | PK–6 | 1.0 mi | 336 | Compare → |
| Mile High AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.9private | PK–12 | 1.2 mi | 194 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Douglas County School District No. Re 1
- Schools in district
- 89
- Rank in district
- #22 of 88
- District spending per student
- $12,942NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 2.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Cougar Run Elementary School is listed in Douglas County School District No. Re 1; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Cougar Run Elementary School
Cougar Run Elementary School is a public elementary school in Highlands Ranch, CO, part of Douglas County School District No. Re 1, serving approximately 360 students in grades Kindergarten-6th with a 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 out of 10 and ranks #251 of 1,815 schools in CO.
State assessment records show 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Cougar Run Elementary School
What grades does Cougar Run Elementary School serve?
Cougar Run Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
How many students attend Cougar Run Elementary School?
Cougar Run Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 360 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cougar Run Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cougar Run Elementary School is 16.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Cougar Run Elementary School rank in CO?
Cougar Run Elementary School ranks #251 of 1,815 schools in CO.
What is Cougar Run Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Cougar Run Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 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 Cougar Run Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Cougar Run Elementary School has 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Cougar Run Elementary School a charter school?
No, Cougar Run Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Cougar Run Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Cougar Run Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Cougar Run Elementary School?
18.1% of students at Cougar Run 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 6th
- Enrollment
- 360
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 22
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Douglas County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 18.9%
- Phone
- (303) 387-6675
- Area population (ZIP 80126)
- 44,482
- Area average commute
- 25.3 min
- Area median age
- 41.5
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 CMAS · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 CMAS · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 80126; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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