Excellent
#284 of 1,815 schools in CO
Top 16% in state
High Plains School
Elementary School · Thompson School District R-2j · Loveland, CO
A Thompson School District R-2j elementary school where students score 4 points above what's typical for similar communities.
4255 BUFFALO MOUNTAIN DRIVE, Loveland, CO 80538
- Math 43% vs CO 37% (2025)
- Reading 54% vs CO 46% (2025)
- 18.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at High Plains School score 48% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 44%).
2025 CMAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CO average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is up 10 points across the 10-year record (2016–2025) and has held near 48% recently.
Show all 8 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 39% (multi-year average, 2016-2025) · reading/ELA 51% (multi-year average, 2016-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 27 test records from CO state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
36.3%
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 High Plains School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 6Car-Dependent
- Bike 36Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,348/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Loveland), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$85,057
Median home value
$472,200
Median rent
$1,730/mo
College educated
42.5%
Homeownership
69%
Poverty rate
8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 80538; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Vision Charter SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified | 7.0 | K–8 | 2.0 mi | 1,006 | Compare → |
| Peakview Academy at Conrad BallEnrollment path unverified | 3.2 | PK–8 | 2.5 mi | 624 | Compare → |
| Resurrection Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 3.8private | PK–12 | 2.5 mi | 1,188 | Compare → |
| Winona Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.7 | PK–5 | 2.5 mi | 250 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Thompson School District R-2j
- Schools in district
- 32
- Rank in district
- #2 of 31
- District spending per student
- $14,678NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 7.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
High Plains School is listed in Thompson School District R-2J; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About High Plains School
High Plains School is a public elementary school in Loveland, CO, part of Thompson School District R-2j, serving approximately 491 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 18.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10 and ranks #284 of 1,815 schools in CO. State assessment records show 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2016-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2016-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about High Plains School
What grades does High Plains School serve?
High Plains School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend High Plains School?
High Plains School has an enrollment of approximately 491 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at High Plains School?
The student-teacher ratio at High Plains School is 18.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does High Plains School rank in CO?
High Plains School ranks #284 of 1,815 schools in CO.
What is High Plains School's MySchoolScout rating?
High Plains School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 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 High Plains School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, High Plains School has 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2016-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2016-2025).
Is High Plains School a charter school?
No, High Plains School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is High Plains School a Title I school?
No, High Plains School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for High Plains School?
36.3% of students at High Plains 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
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 491
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 26
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Larimer County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 27.5%
- Phone
- (970) 679-9800
- Area population (ZIP 80538)
- 49,183
- Area average commute
- 26.7 min
- Area median age
- 43.3
Official sources & links
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 80538; 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, 2016-2025; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
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