Excellent
#201 of 1,815 schools in CO
Top 11% in state
Platte River Charter Academy
Elementary School · Douglas County School District No. Re 1
4085 LARK SPARROW ST., Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
Enrollment
475
Student-Teacher
15.8:1
Score
8.2
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
475
Student-Teacher
15.8:1
Score
8.2
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Highlands Ranch
#10 of 26
public schools
Colorado elementary schools
#161 of 1,006
In district
#22 of 88
Douglas County School District No. Re 1
Equity
9.7 / 10
Exceptional
About Platte River Charter Academy
Platte River Charter Academy is a public elementary school in Highlands Ranch, CO, part of the Douglas County School District No. Re 1. The school serves approximately 475 students in grades Pre-K – 8th with a student-teacher ratio of 15.8:1.
It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.2/10, placing it in the 89th percentile among CO schools — an above average rating overall. Students demonstrate 69% proficiency in math, 31 points above the state average and 77% in reading/language arts, 31 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (8.2/10).
Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $166,501, where 70% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The school is situated in a large suburban setting.
What Parents Should Know
Platte River Charter Academy is a charter school — a publicly funded school that operates with more autonomy than traditional district schools. Charter schools often have distinct educational models or specialties. Parents should understand the school's specific mission, enrollment process, and how its approach differs from nearby district options.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Platte River Charter Academy — Students at Platte River Charter Academy score 75% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CO CMAS (2024-25)
Based on 19 test records from CO state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 8.2/10.
How Platte River Charter Academy Compares
See how Platte River Charter Academy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 66% (2019) to 72.19% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 76% (2019) to 77.15% (2025).
Location
4085 LARK SPARROW ST., Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Platte River Charter Academy may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Heritage Elementary School (rated 8.9/10, 1.5 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Redstone Elementary School (rated 8.8/10, 1.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Ford Elementary (rated 8.6/10, 2.3 miles away, in nearby Centennial), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Highlands Ranch, see our Highlands Ranch schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.2 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMROSE SCHOOL AT SHADOW CANYON Littleton | 0.5 mi | — |
| Cougar Run Elementary School Highlands Ranch | 0.4 mi | 8.2 |
| Highlands Ranch High School Highlands Ranch | 0.7 mi | 7.0 |
| Cresthill Middle School Highlands Ranch | 0.6 mi | 8.1 |
| VALOR CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL Highlands Ranch | 0.8 mi | 4.5 |
| ESPREE CHILD LEARNING CENTER Highlands Ranch | 1.1 mi | — |
| Heritage Elementary School Highlands Ranch | 1.5 mi | 8.9 |
| Arrowwood Elementary School Highlands Ranch | 1.7 mi | 8.3 |
| Skyview Academy Highlands Ranch | 1.5 mi | 5.1 |
| Sand Creek Elementary School Highlands Ranch | 1.5 mi | 7.9 |
| Redstone Elementary School Highlands Ranch | 1.7 mi | 8.8 |
| MILE HIGH ACADEMY Highlands Ranch | 1.6 mi | 6.9 |
| Summit View Elementary School Highlands Ranch | 1.8 mi | 8.2 |
| Fox Creek Elementary School Highlands Ranch | 1.6 mi | 7.5 |
| Ford Elementary Centennial | 2.3 mi | 8.6 |
| Copper Mesa Elementary School Highlands Ranch | 2.3 mi | 8.5 |
| ST KATHARINE DREXEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL Littleton | 2.2 mi | — |
| Mountain Ridge Middle School Highlands Ranch | 2.3 mi | 8.1 |
| Arapahoe High School Centennial | 2.4 mi | 7.0 |
| Wildcat Mountain Elementary School Littleton | 2.2 mi | 8.1 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 80126 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$166,501
Median Home Value
$713,500
Median Rent
$2,379/mo
Population
44,482
College Educated
69.5%
Homeownership
83.9%
Avg Commute
25.3 min
Poverty Rate
2%
Median Age
41.5
Community Profile
The community surrounding Platte River Charter Academy has a median household income of $166,501. It is a well-educated community where 70% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $713,500, with a median rent of $2,379/month. The local poverty rate of 2.0% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Aspen Ridge Preparatory School Erie, CO | 8.2 |
| Chipeta Elementary School Colorado Springs, CO | 8.2 |
| Columbine Elementary School Denver, CO | 8.2 |
| Cougar Run Elementary School Highlands Ranch, CO | 8.2 |
| Foothill Elementary School Boulder, CO | 8.2 |
| Highlands Elementary School Erie, CO | 8.2 |
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 is ranked #201 out of 1,815 schools in CO.
What is Platte River Charter Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Platte River Charter Academy has a composite rating of 8.2 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Platte River Charter Academy?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Platte River Charter Academy has 68.6% math proficiency and 76.5% reading/ELA proficiency.
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.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 475
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 30
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 4.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Douglas County
- Phone
- (303) 221-1070
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Douglas County School District No. Re 1- District Enrollment
- 61,409
- Schools in District
- 89
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,942
- District Rank
- #22 of 88
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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