Excellent
#226 of 1,815 schools in CO
Top 12% in state
Platte River Charter Academy
Elementary School · Douglas County School District No. Re 1 · Highlands Ranch, CO
A Douglas County School District No. Re 1 charter elementary school where students score 14 points above what's typical for similar communities.
4085 LARK SPARROW ST., Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
- Math 72% vs CO 37% (2025)
- Reading 77% vs CO 46% (2025)
- 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Platte River Charter Academy score 75% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).
2025 CMAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CO average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 13 points since 2020, reaching 75% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 72% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 80% (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 41 test records from CO state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
4%
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 Platte River Charter Academy 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 59Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 62Bikeable
- County Safety: Elevated728/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$166,501
Median home value
$713,500
Median rent
$2,379/mo
College educated
69.5%
Homeownership
83.9%
Poverty rate
2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 80126; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cougar Run Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.2 | K–6 | 0.4 mi | 360 | Compare → |
| Primrose School at Shadow CanyonPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–K | 0.5 mi | 4 | Compare → |
| Espree Child Learning CenterPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–K | 1.1 mi | 5 | Compare → |
| Heritage Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.9 | PK–6 | 1.5 mi | 378 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Douglas County School District No. Re 1
- Schools in district
- 89
- Rank in district
- #20 of 88
- District spending per student
- $12,942NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 2.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Platte River Charter Academy is listed in Douglas County School District No. Re 1; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Platte River Charter Academy
Platte River Charter Academy is a public elementary school in Highlands Ranch, CO, part of Douglas County School District No. Re 1, serving approximately 475 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10 and ranks #226 of 1,815 schools in CO.
State assessment records show 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 80% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Platte River Charter Academy
What grades does Platte River Charter Academy serve?
Platte River Charter Academy serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Platte River Charter Academy?
Platte River Charter Academy has an enrollment of approximately 475 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Platte River Charter Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Platte River Charter Academy is 15.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Platte River Charter Academy rank in CO?
Platte River Charter Academy ranks #226 of 1,815 schools in CO.
What is Platte River Charter Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Platte River Charter Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 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 Platte River Charter Academy?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Platte River Charter Academy has 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 80% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Platte River Charter Academy a charter school?
Yes, Platte River Charter Academy is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.
Is Platte River Charter Academy a Title I school?
No, Platte River Charter Academy is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Platte River Charter Academy?
4.0% of students at Platte River Charter Academy 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
- 475
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 30
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Douglas County
- Phone
- (303) 221-1070
- Area population (ZIP 80126)
- 44,482
- Area average commute
- 25.3 min
- Area median age
- 41.5
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 80126; 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, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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