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Excellent

#84 of 1,815 schools in CO

Top 5% in state

Southern Hills Middle School

Middle School · Boulder Valley School District No. Re2

1500 KNOX DRIVE, Boulder, CO 80305

Enrollment

493

Student-Teacher

20.5:1

Score

8.8

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Colorado schools

#84 of 1,815

In Boulder

#8 of 29

public schools

In district

#11 of 54

Boulder Valley School District No. Re2

Academic performance

9.8 / 10

Excellent

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Southern Hills Middle School

8.8/10

Middle School in Boulder · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Fairview High School

8.6/10

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

Summit Middle Charter School

9.5/10

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

About Southern Hills Middle School

Southern Hills Middle School is a public middle school in Boulder, CO, part of Boulder Valley School District No. Re2. Southern Hills Middle School serves approximately 493 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 20.5:1 student-teacher ratio.

Southern Hills Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.8 out of 10 and ranks #84 of 1,815 schools in CO. Structured state assessment records for Southern Hills Middle School show 73% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 86% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.8 pts above district
  • This school 8.8 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.0
  • CO avg 6.0

What Parents Should Know

Southern Hills Middle School runs 20.5:1 students to teachers, above the national average. That often means bigger classes. Ask how the school supports kids who need extra help, and whether there are teaching assistants or small-group time.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.1Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.51 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics9.8Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency71.1% (2025 CMAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency85.9% (2025 CMAS)
Math vs. State Avg+35 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+41 pts
Overall Proficiency78% (2025 CMAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)59% (model expectation from 2025 CMAS)
vs. Expected+20.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile97th
Resources & Environment6.9Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio20.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,172
Chronic Absenteeism8.3%

Southern Hills Middle School — Students at Southern Hills Middle School score 78% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 58%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

7.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CO CMAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 73.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
35.1% (2025 CMAS)
ELA Proficiency 86.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
46.0% (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
97%
ELA
98%
2010
Math
95%
ELA
96%
2011
Math
87%
ELA
92%
2012
Math
89%
ELA
94%
2013
Math
87%
ELA
91%
2014
Math
59%
ELA
79%
2015
Math
65%
ELA
80%
2016
Math
68%
ELA
83%
2017
Math
71%
ELA
79%
2018
Math
68%
ELA
82%
2019
Math
68%
ELA
82%
2020*
Math
58%
ELA
82%
2021*
Math
58%
ELA
82%
2022
Math
64%
2025
Math
71.3%
ELA
86%

* 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: 9.1/10.

How Southern Hills Middle School Compares

See how Southern Hills Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.8/10
95th percentile in CO
Academic
9.8/10
Excellent
Growth
9.1/10
Excellent
Environment
6.9/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
8%
Teaching Staff
21:1 student-teacher ratio
24 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
8.3%

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

1500 KNOX DRIVE, Boulder, CO 80305

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Southern Hills Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Summit Middle Charter School (rated 9.5/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Manhattan Middle School of the Arts and Academics (rated 8.3/10, 1.6 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Nevin Platt Middle School (rated 7.6/10, 2.7 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Boulder, see our Boulder schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Fairview High School Boulder 0.2 mi 8.6
Summit Middle Charter School Boulder 0.6 mi 9.5
Community Montessori School Boulder 0.6 mi 7.2
BIXBY SCHOOL Boulder 0.7 mi 6.3
Mesa Elementary School Boulder 0.9 mi 9.1
Creekside Elementary School at Martin Park Boulder 1.1 mi 9.3
Bear Creek Elementary School Boulder 1.1 mi 9.1
Horizons K-8 School Boulder 1.4 mi 8.5
Manhattan Middle School of the Arts and Academics Boulder 1.6 mi 8.3
High Peaks Elementary School Boulder 2.0 mi 9.2
Boulder Community School/Integrated Studies Boulder 2.0 mi 7.8
COUNTRYSIDE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Boulder 2.0 mi
New Vista High School Boulder 2.2 mi 7.9
Eisenhower Elementary School Boulder 2.4 mi 9.1
University Hill Elementary School Boulder 2.5 mi 7.6
Nevin Platt Middle School Boulder 2.7 mi 7.6
Boulder High School Boulder 3.1 mi 8.3
JAY & ROSE PHILLIPS EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER Boulder 3.2 mi
Flatirons Elementary School Boulder 3.2 mi 8.5
Whittier Elementary School Boulder 3.5 mi 7.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 80305 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$120,933

Median Home Value

$985,700

Median Rent

$2,198/mo

Population

16,101

College Educated

82.5%

Homeownership

62.4%

Avg Commute

21.2 min

Poverty Rate

12.6%

Median Age

37.7

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Merrill Middle School Denver, CO 8.7
DSST: Cedar Middle School Denver, CO 9.0
Cheyenne Mountain Junior High School Colorado Springs, CO 8.6
Salida Middle School Salida, CO 8.6
Steamboat Springs Middle School Steamboat Springs, CO 9.1
Windsor Charter Academy Middle School Windsor, CO 9.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Southern Hills Middle School

What grades does Southern Hills Middle School serve?

Southern Hills Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Southern Hills Middle School?

Southern Hills Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 493 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Southern Hills Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at Southern Hills Middle School is 20.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Southern Hills Middle School rank in CO?

Southern Hills Middle School ranks #84 of 1,815 schools in CO.

What is Southern Hills Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Southern Hills Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.8 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 Southern Hills Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Southern Hills Middle School has 73% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 86% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Southern Hills Middle School a charter school?

No, Southern Hills Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Southern Hills Middle School a Title I school?

No, Southern Hills Middle School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Southern Hills Middle School?

7.5% of students at Southern Hills Middle 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
47 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
44 Some Transit
Bike Score
78 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
493
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
24
Free/Reduced Lunch
7.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Boulder County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
8.3%

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