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
4085 LARK SPARROW ST., Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
Enrollment
475
Student-Teacher
15.8:1
Score
8.3
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
475
Student-Teacher
15.8:1
Score
8.3
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Colorado schools
#226 of 1,815
In Highlands Ranch
#8 of 26
public schools
In district
#20 of 88
Douglas County School District No. Re 1
Equity
9.7 / 10
Excellent
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Platte River Charter Academy
Elementary School in Highlands Ranch · grades Pre-K – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Primrose School at Shadow Canyon
0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Cougar Run Elementary School
0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
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. Platte River Charter Academy serves approximately 475 students, and covers grades Pre-K-8th, and has a 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio.
Platte River Charter Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10 and ranks #226 of 1,815 schools in CO. Structured state assessment records for Platte River Charter Academy show 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 80% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
- This school 8.3 · Excellent
- District avg 7.5
- CO avg 6.3
What Parents Should Know
Platte River Charter Academy is a charter school: publicly funded, but run with more independence than a traditional district school. Many charters are built around a specific model or focus, so it's worth understanding this one's mission, how enrollment works, and how it differs from the district schools nearby.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
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 41 test records from CO state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage 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: 8.5/10.
How Platte River Charter Academy Compares
See how Platte River Charter Academy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
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. Redstone Elementary School (rated 9.1/10, 1.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Ford Elementary (rated 9.1/10, 2.3 miles away, in nearby Centennial), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Wildcat Mountain Elementary School (rated 9.0/10, 2.2 miles away, in nearby Littleton), 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 | 7.9 |
| Cresthill Middle School Highlands Ranch | 0.6 mi | 8.0 |
| 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 | 5.9 |
| Skyview Academy Highlands Ranch | 1.5 mi | 7.4 |
| Sand Creek Elementary School Highlands Ranch | 1.5 mi | 7.8 |
| Redstone Elementary School Highlands Ranch | 1.7 mi | 9.1 |
| MILE HIGH ACADEMY Highlands Ranch | 1.6 mi | 6.9 |
| Summit View Elementary School Highlands Ranch | 1.8 mi | 8.7 |
| Fox Creek Elementary School Highlands Ranch | 1.6 mi | 8.0 |
| Ford Elementary Centennial | 2.3 mi | 9.1 |
| Copper Mesa Elementary School Highlands Ranch | 2.3 mi | 7.7 |
| ST KATHARINE DREXEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL Littleton | 2.2 mi | — |
| Mountain Ridge Middle School Highlands Ranch | 2.3 mi | 8.0 |
| Arapahoe High School Centennial | 2.4 mi | 8.1 |
| Wildcat Mountain Elementary School Littleton | 2.2 mi | 9.0 |
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
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Blue Mountain Elementary Longmont, CO | 8.3 |
| Chinook Trail Elementary School Colorado Springs, CO | 8.3 |
| Coperni 3 Colorado Springs, CO | 8.3 |
| Coyote Creek Elementary School Highlands Ranch, CO | 8.3 |
| Creekside Elementary School Centennial, CO | 8.3 |
| Emerald Elementary School Broomfield, CO | 8.3 |
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.
Neighborhood Context
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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
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
- #20 of 88
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