Very Good
#539 of 1,815 schools in CO
Top 30% in state
Polaris Expeditionary Learning School
School · Poudre School District R-1 · Fort Collins, CO
A Poudre School District R-1 school serving grades Kindergarten – 12th.
1905 ORCHARD PLACE, Fort Collins, CO 80521
- Math 41% vs CO 37% (2025)
- Reading 63% vs CO 45% (2025)
- 90%+ 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Polaris Expeditionary Learning School score 48% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 50%).
2025 CMAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CO average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 30 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 52% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 46% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 68% (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 37 test records from CO state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
24.9%
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 Polaris Expeditionary Learning School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 45Car-Dependent
- Transit 40Some Transit
- Bike 90Biker’s Paradise
- City Safety: High2,442/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Fort Collins), 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
$52,679
Median home value
$541,300
Median rent
$1,412/mo
College educated
62.7%
Homeownership
36.9%
Poverty rate
32%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 80521; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psd Global AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 6.7 | K–12 | 2.5 mi | 299 | Compare → |
| Ridgeview Classical SchoolsCharter · enrollment unverified | 6.7 | K–12 | 3.0 mi | 730 | Compare → |
| Ascent Classical Academy of Northern ColoradoCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.8 | K–11 | 3.4 mi | 613 | Compare → |
| Liberty Common Charter SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified | 7.4 | K–12 | 4.3 mi | 1,475 | 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.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Poudre School District R-1
- Schools in district
- 52
- Rank in district
- #29 of 51
- District spending per student
- $14,995NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 6.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Polaris Expeditionary Learning School is listed in Poudre School District R-1; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Polaris Expeditionary Learning School
Polaris Expeditionary Learning School is a public school in Fort Collins, CO, part of Poudre School District R-1, serving approximately 390 students in grades Kindergarten-12th with a 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and ranks #539 of 1,815 schools in CO. State assessment records show 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Polaris Expeditionary Learning School
What grades does Polaris Expeditionary Learning School serve?
Polaris Expeditionary Learning School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.
How many students attend Polaris Expeditionary Learning School?
Polaris Expeditionary Learning School has an enrollment of approximately 390 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Polaris Expeditionary Learning School?
The student-teacher ratio at Polaris Expeditionary Learning School is 14.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Polaris Expeditionary Learning School rank in CO?
Polaris Expeditionary Learning School ranks #539 of 1,815 schools in CO.
What is Polaris Expeditionary Learning School's MySchoolScout rating?
Polaris Expeditionary Learning School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 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 Polaris Expeditionary Learning School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Polaris Expeditionary Learning School has 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Polaris Expeditionary Learning School a charter school?
No, Polaris Expeditionary Learning School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Polaris Expeditionary Learning School a Title I school?
No, Polaris Expeditionary Learning School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Polaris Expeditionary Learning School?
24.9% of students at Polaris Expeditionary Learning 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 – 12th
- Enrollment
- 390
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 27
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Larimer County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 34.4%
- Phone
- (970) 488-8260
- 4-Year Graduation
- 90%+
- Area population (ZIP 80521)
- 38,217
- Area average commute
- 19.6 min
- Area median age
- 23
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 80521; 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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