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Average

#787 of 1,815 schools in CO

Top 43% in state

John F Kennedy High School

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

2855 SOUTH LAMAR STREET, Denver, CO 80227

Enrollment

707

Student-Teacher

13.1:1

Score

6.6

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Colorado schools

#787 of 1,815

In Denver

#108 of 222

public schools

In district

#101 of 196

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

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John F Kennedy High School

6.6/10

High School in Denver · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Traylor Academy

3.4/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Bear Valley International School

7.6/10

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About John F Kennedy High School

John F Kennedy High School is a public high school in Denver, CO, part of School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C. John F Kennedy High School serves approximately 707 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio. John F Kennedy High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.6 out of 10 and ranks #787 of 1,815 schools in CO.

Structured state assessment records for John F Kennedy High School show 18% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 6.6 · Average
  • District avg 6.7
  • CO avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

71% of students at John F Kennedy High School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress5.4Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.75 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics5.1Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency12% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency32% (2021 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency22% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)23% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-1.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile33th
College Readiness9.9Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate79%
IB ProgramYes
Resources & Environment4.9Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,206
Chronic Absenteeism70.6%

John F Kennedy High School — Students at John F Kennedy High School score 22% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 23%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

77.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CO EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 18.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 41.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2021)
School
State
N/A

Based on 27 test records from CO state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
51%
ELA
87%
2010
Math
49%
ELA
88%
2011
Math
17%
ELA
48%
2012
Math
18%
ELA
52%
2013
Math
17%
ELA
54%
2014
Math
10%
ELA
28%
2015
Math
11%
ELA
19%
2016
Math
15%
ELA
26%
2017
Math
18%
ELA
15%
2018
Math
12%
ELA
32%
2019
Math
12%
ELA
32%
2020*
Math
7.5%
ELA
32%
2021*
Math
7.5%
ELA
32%
2022
Math
12%

* 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: 5.4/10.

How John F Kennedy High School Compares

See how John F Kennedy High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.6/10
57th percentile in CO
Academic
5.1/10
Average
Growth
5.4/10
Average
Environment
4.9/10
Below Average
Sports
18
9 boys' · 9 girls'
Advanced STEM
4/5
Subjects offered
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
78%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
54 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
70.6%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs IB Programme
State avg: 2.7 AP courses·556 IB enrolled·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics18sports offered
9 boys'·9 girls'·23 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses4 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22
Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

2855 SOUTH LAMAR STREET, Denver, CO 80227

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering John F Kennedy High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Addenbrooke Classical Academy (rated 8.0/10, 1.0 miles away, in nearby Lakewood), which scores notably higher. Another option is Summit Academy (rated 6.4/10, 1.3 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, MULLEN HIGH SCHOOL (rated 5.5/10, 1.8 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Denver, see our Denver schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Traylor Academy Denver 0.3 mi 3.4
Bear Valley International School Denver 0.5 mi 7.6
ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL Denver 0.8 mi 6.0
COLORADO ACADEMY Denver 1.0 mi 6.5
Addenbrooke Classical Academy Lakewood 1.0 mi 8.0
DENVER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Lakewood 1.2 mi 7.2
Addenbrooke Classical Grammar School Lakewood 1.3 mi 7.9
Summit Academy Denver 1.3 mi 6.4
NOTRE DAME PARISH SCHOOL Denver 1.3 mi 6.1
Sabin World School Denver 1.2 mi 8.1
Mountview Youth Service Center Denver 1.4 mi
HAVERN SCHOOL Littleton 1.6 mi 7.6
Westgate Elementary School Lakewood 1.4 mi 3.3
Doull Elementary School Denver 1.5 mi 7.5
Denison Montessori School Denver 1.7 mi 6.4
Lasley Elementary School Lakewood 2.0 mi 4.2
Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy Denver 1.8 mi 5.0
Green Gables Elementary School Lakewood 1.8 mi 6.2
MULLEN HIGH SCHOOL Denver 1.8 mi 5.5
Force Elementary School Denver 2.1 mi 6.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 80227 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$88,796

Median Home Value

$535,000

Median Rent

$1,786/mo

Population

34,946

College Educated

44.1%

Homeownership

66.5%

Avg Commute

27 min

Poverty Rate

7.6%

Median Age

39.8

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
KENT DENVER SCHOOL Englewood, CO 6.6
Wheat Ridge High School Wheat Ridge, CO 6.6
Englewood High School Englewood, CO 6.5
Pagosa Springs High School Pagosa Springs, CO 6.5
Woodland Park High School Woodland Park, CO 6.5
Career Education Center Early College Denver, CO 6.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about John F Kennedy High School

What grades does John F Kennedy High School serve?

John F Kennedy High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend John F Kennedy High School?

John F Kennedy High School has an enrollment of approximately 707 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at John F Kennedy High School?

The student-teacher ratio at John F Kennedy High School is 13.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does John F Kennedy High School rank in CO?

John F Kennedy High School ranks #787 of 1,815 schools in CO.

What is John F Kennedy High School's MySchoolScout rating?

John F Kennedy High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.6 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 John F Kennedy High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, John F Kennedy High School has 18% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).

Is John F Kennedy High School a charter school?

No, John F Kennedy High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is John F Kennedy High School a Title I school?

No, John F Kennedy High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for John F Kennedy High School?

77.8% of students at John F Kennedy High 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

Walk Score
23 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
34 Some Transit
Bike Score
65 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
707
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
54
Free/Reduced Lunch
77.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Denver County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
70.6%
4-Year Graduation
79.0%

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