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Below Average

#1459 of 1,815 schools in CO

Polton Community Elementary School

Elementary School · Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah

2985 SOUTH OAKLAND STREET, Aurora, CO 80014

Enrollment

451

Student-Teacher

14.1:1

Score

4.6

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Colorado schools

#1,459 of 1,815

In Aurora

#66 of 100

public schools

In district

#59 of 70

Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah

School environment

8.8 / 10

Excellent

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Polton Community Elementary School

4.6/10

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

Eastridge Community Elementary School

4.0/10

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

Crescent View Academy

8.1/10

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

About Polton Community Elementary School

Polton Community Elementary School is a public elementary school in Aurora, CO, part of Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah. Polton Community Elementary School serves approximately 451 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Polton Community Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10 and ranks #1,459 of 1,815 schools in CO.

Structured state assessment records for Polton Community Elementary School show 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 47% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.0 pts below district
  • This school 4.6 · Below Average
  • District avg 6.6
  • CO avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress2.9Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-4.7 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics4.7Below Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency23.5% (2025 CMAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency24.7% (2025 CMAS)
Math vs. State Avg-12.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-20.2 pts
Overall Proficiency24% (2025 CMAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)30% (model expectation from 2025 CMAS)
vs. Expected-5.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile28th
Resources & Environment8.8Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,158
Chronic Absenteeism23.5%

Polton Community Elementary School — Students at Polton Community Elementary School score 24% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 30%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

64.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CO CMAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 39.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
39.5% (2025 CMAS)
ELA Proficiency 47.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
44.9% (2025 CMAS)

Based on 35 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
92%
ELA
87%
2010
Math
92%
ELA
92%
2011
Math
68%
ELA
70%
2012
Math
74%
ELA
71%
2013
Math
71%
ELA
73%
2014
Math
30%
ELA
46%
2015
Math
34%
ELA
38%
2016
Math
27%
ELA
43%
2017
Math
27%
ELA
39%
2018
Math
29%
ELA
40%
2019
Math
29%
ELA
40%
2020*
Math
15%
ELA
32%
2021*
Math
15%
ELA
32%
2022
Math
17%
2025
Math
23.2%
ELA
25%

* 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: 2.9/10.

How Polton Community Elementary School Compares

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

Overall Score
4.6/10
20th percentile in CO
Academic
4.7/10
Below Average
Growth
2.9/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
8.8/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
65%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
32 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
23.5%

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

2985 SOUTH OAKLAND STREET, Aurora, CO 80014

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Polton Community Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Challenge School (rated 9.0/10, 2.7 miles away, in nearby Denver), which scores notably higher. Another option is Belleview Elementary School (rated 7.5/10, 2.8 miles away, in nearby Greenwood Village), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Joe Shoemaker School (rated 6.9/10, 0.9 miles away, in nearby Denver), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Aurora, see our Aurora schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.8 mi
School Distance Rating
Eastridge Community Elementary School Aurora 0.6 mi 4.0
CRESCENT VIEW ACADEMY Aurora 0.5 mi 8.1
MT. OLIVE LUTHERAN Aurora 0.7 mi
Joe Shoemaker School Denver 0.9 mi 6.9
Overland High School Aurora 1.2 mi 6.3
Ponderosa Elementary School Aurora 1.4 mi 3.5
Prairie Middle School Aurora 1.4 mi 3.6
Village East Community Elementary School Aurora 1.9 mi 3.3
AXL Academy Aurora 1.9 mi 3.5
THREE BEARS LEARNING CENTER Denver 2.2 mi
DENVER JEWISH DAY SCHOOL Denver 2.0 mi 8.6
Aurora Hills Middle School Aurora 2.5 mi 3.2
Colorado Early Colleges Aurora Aurora 2.3 mi 5.7
Jewell Elementary School Aurora 2.2 mi 5.8
Highline Community Elementary School Aurora 2.7 mi 3.8
Hamilton Middle School Denver 2.2 mi 3.9
Holm Elementary School Denver 2.2 mi 6.8
Challenge School Denver 2.7 mi 9.0
Campus Middle School Greenwood Village 2.7 mi 8.3
Belleview Elementary School Greenwood Village 2.8 mi 7.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 80014 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$72,561

Median Home Value

$386,500

Median Rent

$1,800/mo

Population

39,277

College Educated

44.1%

Homeownership

59.8%

Avg Commute

26.9 min

Poverty Rate

9.5%

Median Age

41.4

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Compass Montessori - Wheat Ridge Charter School Wheat Ridge, CO 4.6
Fremont Elementary School Colorado Springs, CO 4.6
HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC SCHOOL Grand Junction, CO 4.6
Independence Elementary School Aurora, CO 4.6
McMeen Elementary School Denver, CO 4.6
Mission Viejo Elementary School Aurora, CO 4.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Polton Community Elementary School

What grades does Polton Community Elementary School serve?

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

How many students attend Polton Community Elementary School?

Polton Community Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 451 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Polton Community Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Polton Community Elementary School is 14.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Polton Community Elementary School rank in CO?

Polton Community Elementary School ranks #1,459 of 1,815 schools in CO.

What is Polton Community Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Polton Community Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 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 Polton Community Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Polton Community Elementary School has 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 47% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Polton Community Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Polton Community Elementary School a Title I school?

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

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

64.5% of students at Polton Community 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
39 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
53 Good Transit
Bike Score
62 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
451
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
32
Free/Reduced Lunch
64.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Arapahoe County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
23.5%

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