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Very Good

#373 of 1,815 schools in CO

Top 21% in state

Sand Creek Elementary School

Elementary School · Douglas County School District No. Re 1

8898 SOUTH MAPLEWOOD DRIVE, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

Enrollment

336

Student-Teacher

15.3:1

Score

7.8

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Colorado schools

#373 of 1,815

In Highlands Ranch

#20 of 26

public schools

In district

#35 of 88

Douglas County School District No. Re 1

Equity

8.8 / 10

Excellent

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Sand Creek Elementary School

7.8/10

Elementary School in Highlands Ranch · grades Pre-K – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Mile High Academy

6.9/10

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

John Wesley Powell Middle School

8.2/10

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

About Sand Creek Elementary School

Sand Creek Elementary School is a public elementary school in Highlands Ranch, CO, part of Douglas County School District No. Re 1. Sand Creek Elementary School serves approximately 336 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio.

Sand Creek Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10 and ranks #373 of 1,815 schools in CO. Structured state assessment records for Sand Creek Elementary School show 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.3 pts above district
  • This school 7.8 · Very Good
  • District avg 7.5
  • CO avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.5Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-2.88 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.7Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency53.6% (2025 CMAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency61.1% (2025 CMAS)
Math vs. State Avg+17.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+16.2 pts
Overall Proficiency57% (2025 CMAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)49% (model expectation from 2025 CMAS)
vs. Expected+8.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile80th
Resources & Environment7.3Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,942
Chronic Absenteeism21.7%

Sand Creek Elementary School — Students at Sand Creek Elementary School score 57% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 49%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

27.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CO CMAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 59.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
38.3% (2025 CMAS)
ELA Proficiency 65.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
44.9% (2025 CMAS)

Based on 37 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
97%
ELA
97%
2010
Math
98%
ELA
96%
2011
Math
83%
ELA
83%
2012
Math
82%
ELA
80%
2013
Math
81%
ELA
81%
2014
Math
37%
ELA
48%
2015
Math
35%
ELA
46%
2016
Math
41%
ELA
52%
2017
Math
51%
ELA
58%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
55%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
55%
2020*
Math
47%
ELA
57%
2021*
Math
47%
ELA
57%
2022
Math
47%
2025
Math
55.4%
ELA
61.9%

* 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: 7.5/10.

How Sand Creek Elementary School Compares

See how Sand Creek Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.8/10
80th percentile in CO
Academic
8.7/10
Excellent
Growth
7.5/10
Very Good
Environment
7.3/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
27%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
22 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
21.7%

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

8898 SOUTH MAPLEWOOD DRIVE, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Sand Creek Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Heritage Elementary School (rated 8.9/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Summit View Elementary School (rated 8.7/10, 2.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Northridge Elementary School (rated 8.6/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Highlands Ranch, see our Highlands Ranch schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.6 mi
School Distance Rating
MILE HIGH ACADEMY Highlands Ranch 0.2 mi 6.9
John Wesley Powell Middle School Littleton 1.1 mi 8.2
Northridge Elementary School Highlands Ranch 1.0 mi 8.6
Cougar Run Elementary School Highlands Ranch 1.0 mi 8.2
Arapahoe High School Centennial 1.5 mi 8.1
Bear Canyon Elementary School Highlands Ranch 1.6 mi 6.6
PRIMROSE SCHOOL AT SHADOW CANYON Littleton 1.3 mi
Platte River Charter Academy Highlands Ranch 1.5 mi 8.3
Summit View Elementary School Highlands Ranch 2.0 mi 8.7
Little Raven Elementary School Littleton 2.1 mi 8.0
VALOR CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL Highlands Ranch 1.8 mi 4.5
STEM School Highlands Ranch Highlands Ranch 1.7 mi 7.4
Hopkins Elementary School Centennial 2.1 mi 8.1
Sandburg Elementary School Centennial 2.2 mi 7.5
Heritage Elementary School Highlands Ranch 2.2 mi 8.9
Highlands Ranch High School Highlands Ranch 2.1 mi 7.9
ARMA DEI ACADEMY Highlands Ranch 2.4 mi 5.6
Mountain Vista High School Highlands Ranch 2.6 mi 8.1
Cresthill Middle School Highlands Ranch 2.1 mi 8.0
Mountain Ridge Middle School Highlands Ranch 2.6 mi 8.0

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
Boulder Community School/Integrated Studies Boulder, CO 7.8
Bradford K8 South Littleton, CO 7.8
Douglass Valley Elementary School Usaf Academy, CO 7.8
Eagle County Charter Academy Edwards, CO 7.8
Franktown Elementary School Franktown, CO 7.8
Gilcrest Elementary School Gilcrest, CO 7.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Sand Creek Elementary School

What grades does Sand Creek Elementary School serve?

Sand Creek Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend Sand Creek Elementary School?

Sand Creek Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 336 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Sand Creek Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Sand Creek Elementary School is 15.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Sand Creek Elementary School rank in CO?

Sand Creek Elementary School ranks #373 of 1,815 schools in CO.

What is Sand Creek Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Sand Creek Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 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 Sand Creek Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Sand Creek Elementary School has 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Sand Creek Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Sand Creek Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Sand Creek Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Sand Creek Elementary School?

27.4% of students at Sand Creek 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
27 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
38 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
336
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
22
Free/Reduced Lunch
27.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Douglas County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
21.7%

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