Below Average
#1425 of 1,815 schools in CO
Mcelwain Elementary School
Elementary School · Adams 12 Five Star Schools · Thornton, CO
An Adams 12 Five Star Schools elementary school where students score 5 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1020 DAWSON DRIVE, Thornton, CO 80229
- Math 11% vs CO 39% (2025)
- Reading 14% vs CO 48% (2025)
- 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Mcelwain Elementary School score 11% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 16%).
2025 CMAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CO average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 59 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 13% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 23% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 28% (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 30 test records from CO state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
91.6%
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 Mcelwain 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 73Very Walkable
- Bike 53Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,129/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Thornton), 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
$83,450
Median home value
$382,900
Median rent
$1,719/mo
College educated
19.8%
Homeownership
67.7%
Poverty rate
9.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 80229; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coronado Hills Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.8 | PK–5 | 0.3 mi | 433 | Compare → |
| Monterey Community SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.1 | K–8 | 0.7 mi | 427 | Compare → |
| Clayton Partnership SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.8 | K–8 | 0.9 mi | 441 | Compare → |
| Thornton Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.0 | PK–5 | 0.9 mi | 372 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Adams 12 Five Star Schools
- Schools in district
- 54
- Rank in district
- #34 of 53
- District spending per student
- $14,748NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 8.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Mcelwain Elementary School is listed in Adams 12 Five Star Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Mcelwain Elementary School
Mcelwain Elementary School is a public elementary school in Thornton, CO, part of Adams 12 Five Star Schools, serving approximately 358 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 out of 10 and ranks #1,425 of 1,815 schools in CO. State assessment records show 23% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 28% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Mcelwain Elementary School
What grades does Mcelwain Elementary School serve?
Mcelwain Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Mcelwain Elementary School?
Mcelwain Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 358 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mcelwain Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Mcelwain Elementary School is 13.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Mcelwain Elementary School rank in CO?
Mcelwain Elementary School ranks #1,425 of 1,815 schools in CO.
What is Mcelwain Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Mcelwain Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 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 Mcelwain Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Mcelwain Elementary School has 23% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 28% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Mcelwain Elementary School a charter school?
No, Mcelwain Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Mcelwain Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Mcelwain Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Mcelwain Elementary School?
91.6% of students at Mcelwain 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 – 5th
- Enrollment
- 358
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 26
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Adams County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 61.2%
- Phone
- (720) 972-5500
- Area population (ZIP 80229)
- 57,274
- Area average commute
- 29.5 min
- Area median age
- 32.6
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 80229; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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