Very Good
#561 of 1,815 schools in CO
Top 31% in state
Dakota Valley Elementary School
Elementary School · Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah
3950 SOUTH KIRK WAY, Aurora, CO 80013
Enrollment
584
Student-Teacher
15.4:1
Score
7.2
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
584
Student-Teacher
15.4:1
Score
7.2
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Aurora
#23 of 100
public schools
Colorado elementary schools
#391 of 1,006
In district
#29 of 70
Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah
Academic growth
7.4 / 10
Strong
About Dakota Valley Elementary School
Dakota Valley Elementary School serves 584 students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Aurora's thriving suburban community. With 38 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 15.4 to 1, allowing for more personalized attention in the classroom. The school has earned recognition as one of Colorado's top elementary schools, ranking 71st out of 1,831 schools statewide and placing in the 96th percentile with a MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 out of 10.
Academically, Dakota Valley shows solid performance with 50% of students achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts and reading across grade levels. In mathematics, 39% of students demonstrate proficiency or above, indicating opportunities for continued growth in this subject area. The school draws families from a well-established neighborhood where the median household income reaches $92,076 and home values average $422,600.
About one-third of area residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, and the community maintains a low poverty rate of 9.7%, reflecting the economic stability of the surrounding area. Dakota Valley Elementary is situated in Aurora's large suburban setting, serving families in the 80013 ZIP code area that is home to nearly 74,000 residents.
Score Breakdown
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Dakota Valley Elementary School — Students at Dakota Valley Elementary School score 42% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 41%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
41.3%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CO CMAS (2024-25)
Based on 13 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: 7.4/10.
How Dakota Valley Elementary School Compares
See how Dakota Valley Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 35% (2019) to 35.8% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 42% (2019) to 47.49% (2025).
Location
3950 SOUTH KIRK WAY, Aurora, CO 80013
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Dakota Valley Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Aspen Crossing Elementary School (rated 7.4/10, 1.0 miles away, in nearby Centennial), with a very similar rating. Another option is PEACE WITH CHRIST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (rated 6.7/10, 1.6 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Mountain Vista Elementary School (rated 6.3/10, 1.3 miles away, in nearby Centennial), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Aurora, see our Aurora schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.1 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora Frontier K-8 Aurora | 0.8 mi | 4.7 |
| Sky Vista Middle School Aurora | 0.8 mi | 4.8 |
| Sunrise Elementary School Aurora | 0.7 mi | 5.4 |
| Aspen Crossing Elementary School Centennial | 1.0 mi | 7.4 |
| Mountain Vista Elementary School Centennial | 1.3 mi | 6.3 |
| Eaglecrest High School Centennial | 1.6 mi | 7.7 |
| Thunder Ridge Middle School Aurora | 1.8 mi | 6.2 |
| Horizon Middle School Aurora | 1.4 mi | 5.5 |
| Arrowhead Elementary School Aurora | 1.7 mi | 5.5 |
| Outback Preschool Aurora | 2.0 mi | 6.5 |
| PEACE WITH CHRIST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Aurora | 1.6 mi | 6.7 |
| Peakview Elementary School Centennial | 1.9 mi | 6.1 |
| Timberline Elementary School Centennial | 2.1 mi | 5.5 |
| Summit Elementary School Aurora | 1.7 mi | 6.1 |
| Antelope Ridge Elementary School Aurora | 2.2 mi | 5.3 |
| Heritage Heights Academy Centennial | 2.5 mi | 5.9 |
| MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF AURORA Centennial | 2.3 mi | — |
| Side Creek Elementary School Aurora | 2.4 mi | 4.8 |
| Vassar Elementary School Aurora | 2.4 mi | 5.6 |
| Cimarron Elementary School Aurora | 2.1 mi | 5.2 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 80013 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$97,167
Median Home Value
$453,700
Median Rent
$1,978/mo
Population
74,732
College Educated
33.4%
Homeownership
76.7%
Avg Commute
29.9 min
Poverty Rate
10.6%
Median Age
36.4
Community Profile
The community surrounding Dakota Valley Elementary School has a median household income of $97,167. It is an area where 33% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $453,700, with a median rent of $1,978/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.6%. The average commute for residents is 30 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 |
|---|---|
| Dunn Elementary School Fort Collins, CO | 7.2 |
| Elkhart Elementary School Aurora, CO | 7.2 |
| French Elementary School Colorado Springs, CO | 7.2 |
| Independence Elementary School Aurora, CO | 7.2 |
| Meadow Point Elementary School Aurora, CO | 7.2 |
| Monument Charter Academy Monument, CO | 7.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Dakota Valley Elementary School
What grades does Dakota Valley Elementary School serve?
Dakota Valley Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Dakota Valley Elementary School?
Dakota Valley Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 584 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dakota Valley Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Dakota Valley Elementary School is 15.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Dakota Valley Elementary School rank in CO?
Dakota Valley Elementary School is ranked #561 out of 1,815 schools in CO.
What is Dakota Valley Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Dakota Valley Elementary School has a composite rating of 7.2 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 Dakota Valley Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Dakota Valley Elementary School has 37.3% math proficiency and 48.3% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Dakota Valley Elementary School a charter school?
No, Dakota Valley Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Dakota Valley Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Dakota Valley Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Dakota Valley Elementary School?
41.3% of students at Dakota Valley 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.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Aurora). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 584
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 38
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 41.3%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Arapahoe County
- Phone
- (720) 886-3000
- 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
- #29 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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