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Excellent

#266 of 1,815 schools in CO

Top 15% in state

Palmer Elementary School

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

995 GRAPE STREET, Denver, CO 80220

Enrollment

196

Student-Teacher

15.1:1

Score

8.1

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Colorado schools

#266 of 1,815

In Denver

#50 of 222

public schools

In district

#49 of 196

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

Academic growth

8.5 / 10

Excellent

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Palmer Elementary School

8.1/10

Elementary School in Denver · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

French American School of Denver

9.5/10

Denver, CO. Compare side by side with Palmer Elementary School before ruling this option in or out.

Christ the King Roman Catholic School

5.7/10

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

About Palmer Elementary School

Palmer Elementary School is a public elementary school in Denver, CO, part of School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C. Palmer Elementary School serves approximately 196 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Palmer Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10 and ranks #266 of 1,815 schools in CO.

Structured state assessment records for Palmer Elementary School show 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

What's said publicly about Palmer Elementary School

Sources: School's website

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026. Reviewed for accuracy.

Palmer Elementary School is located in the Mayfair neighborhood of Denver 1 . The school offers Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs for 3 and 4-year-olds 1 . Its curriculum is based on general studies using the Creative Curriculum and emphasizes Social-Emotional Learning through the Positive Action Curriculum 1 . Palmer provides before- and after-school care through the Little Links Extended Learning department of Denver Public Schools 1 . The school states that it prioritizes a safe, welcoming atmosphere and values diversity, equity, inclusion, and a growth mindset 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. palmer.dpsk12.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy
How it compares1.3 pts above district
  • This school 8.1 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.8
  • CO avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

At 196 students, Palmer Elementary School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

36% of students at Palmer Elementary 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 · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.5Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-2.21 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics7.7Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency50% (2025 CMAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency47.4% (2025 CMAS)
Math vs. State Avg+13.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+2.5 pts
Overall Proficiency49% (2025 CMAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)45% (model expectation from 2025 CMAS)
vs. Expected+3.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile66th
Resources & Environment7.6Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,206
Chronic Absenteeism36.2%

Palmer Elementary School — Students at Palmer Elementary School score 49% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

34.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CO CMAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 47.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
39.3% (2025 CMAS)
ELA Proficiency 50.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
46.7% (2025 CMAS)

Based on 31 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
87%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
82%
ELA
87%
2011
Math
57%
ELA
62%
2012
Math
52%
ELA
67%
2013
Math
57%
ELA
57%
2014
Math
12%
ELA
22%
2015
Math
32%
ELA
42%
2016
Math
32%
ELA
37%
2017
Math
37%
ELA
47%
2018
Math
32%
ELA
37%
2019
Math
32%
ELA
37%
2020*
Math
49.5%
ELA
34.5%
2021*
Math
49.5%
ELA
34.5%
2022
Math
37%
2025
Math
55%
ELA
54.6%

* 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: 8.5/10.

How Palmer Elementary School Compares

See how Palmer Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.1/10
85th percentile in CO
Academic
7.7/10
Very Good
Growth
8.5/10
Excellent
Environment
7.6/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
35%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
13 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
36.2%

Programs & Offerings

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

995 GRAPE STREET, Denver, CO 80220

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Palmer Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Denver Language School (rated 9.2/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Park Hill School (rated 9.1/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Steck Elementary School (rated 9.1/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Denver, see our Denver schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.4 mi
School Distance Rating
CHRIST THE KING ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL Denver 0.3 mi 5.7
Hill Campus of Arts and Sciences Denver 0.8 mi 5.8
Park Hill School Denver 0.9 mi 9.1
Carson Elementary School Denver 1.0 mi 8.9
BLESSED SACRAMENT PARISH SCHOOL Denver 1.0 mi 5.4
Montclair School of Academics and Enrichment Denver 0.8 mi 5.1
RABBI STEVEN FOSTER EARLY LEARNING CENTER Denver 1.1 mi
EINSTEIN ACADEMY Denver 0.8 mi
Steck Elementary School Denver 0.9 mi 9.1
MONTVIEW COMMUNITY PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN Denver 1.1 mi
ST JAMES CATHOLIC SCHOOL Denver 0.9 mi 6.8
BANSBACH ACADEMY AT DENVER CHILDRENS HOME Denver 1.0 mi 7.7
Denver Language School Denver 1.0 mi 9.2
Teller Elementary School Denver 1.0 mi 8.9
GRALAND COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Denver 1.2 mi 6.5
Odyssey School of Denver Denver 1.3 mi 8.1
PADDINGTON STATION Denver 1.2 mi
McAuliffe International School Denver 1.5 mi 8.8
HILLEL ACADEMY Denver 1.7 mi 6.3
ST ELIZABETH'S SCHOOL Denver 1.4 mi 6.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 80220 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$101,961

Median Home Value

$739,600

Median Rent

$1,621/mo

Population

36,311

College Educated

65.5%

Homeownership

57.8%

Avg Commute

24.6 min

Poverty Rate

9.1%

Median Age

38.1

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Coyote Ridge Elementary School Fort Collins, CO 8.1
Bristol Elementary School Colorado Springs, CO 8.0
Heatherwood Elementary School Boulder, CO 8.0
Lewis-Arriola Elementary School Cortez, CO 8.2
New Emerson School at Columbus Grand Junction, CO 8.0
North Fork School of Integrated Studies Paonia, CO 8.2

Compare Palmer Elementary School with similar schools nearby

Side-by-side ratings, test scores, and demographics for the schools parents most often weigh against this one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Palmer Elementary School

What grades does Palmer Elementary School serve?

Palmer Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Palmer Elementary School?

Palmer Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 196 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Palmer Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Palmer Elementary School is 15.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Palmer Elementary School rank in CO?

Palmer Elementary School ranks #266 of 1,815 schools in CO.

What is Palmer Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Palmer Elementary 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 Palmer Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Palmer Elementary School has 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Palmer Elementary School a charter school?

No, Palmer Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Palmer Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Palmer Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Palmer Elementary School?

34.7% of students at Palmer 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
54 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
37 Some Transit
Bike Score
72 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Compare This School

How does Palmer Elementary School stack up?

French American School of Denver
9.5

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
196
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
13
Free/Reduced Lunch
34.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Denver County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
36.2%

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