Excellent
#288 of 1,815 schools in CO
Top 16% in state
Stem Launch
Elementary School · Adams 12 Five Star Schools · Thornton, CO
An Adams 12 Five Star Schools elementary school where students score 6 points above what's typical for similar communities.
9450 PECOS STREET, Thornton, CO 80260
- Math 23% vs CO 37% (2025)
- Reading 36% vs CO 46% (2025)
- 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Stem Launch score 29% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 23%).
2025 CMAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CO average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 14-year record (2012–2025), then recovered 15 points since 2020, reaching 29% in 2025.
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 22% (multi-year average, 2012-2025) · reading/ELA 31% (multi-year average, 2012-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 35 test records from CO state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
78.2%
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 Stem Launch sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Denver map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 45Car-Dependent
- Transit 33Some Transit
- Bike 57Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,129/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Thornton), 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
$62,929
Median home value
$188,200
Median rent
$1,532/mo
College educated
13.9%
Homeownership
61.9%
Poverty rate
16.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 80260; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Heights Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.6 | PK–5 | 0.7 mi | 425 | Compare → |
| North Mor Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.3 | PK–5 | 0.8 mi | 314 | Compare → |
| Hillcrest Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.8 | K–5 | 1.0 mi | 358 | Compare → |
| North Star Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.2 | PK–5 | 1.1 mi | 331 | 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.
Adams 12 Five Star Schools
- Schools in district
- 54
- Rank in district
- #5 of 53
- District spending per student
- $14,748NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 8.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Stem Launch is listed in Adams 12 Five Star Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Stem Launch
Stem Launch is a public elementary school in Thornton, CO, part of Adams 12 Five Star Schools, serving approximately 748 students in grades Kindergarten-8th with a 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10 and ranks #288 of 1,815 schools in CO. State assessment records show 22% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025) and 31% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Stem Launch
What grades does Stem Launch serve?
Stem Launch serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.
How many students attend Stem Launch?
Stem Launch has an enrollment of approximately 748 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Stem Launch?
The student-teacher ratio at Stem Launch is 15.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Stem Launch rank in CO?
Stem Launch ranks #288 of 1,815 schools in CO.
What is Stem Launch's MySchoolScout rating?
Stem Launch has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 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 Stem Launch?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Stem Launch has 22% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025) and 31% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025).
Is Stem Launch a charter school?
No, Stem Launch is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Stem Launch a Title I school?
No, Stem Launch is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Stem Launch?
78.2% of students at Stem Launch 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 – 8th
- Enrollment
- 748
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 48
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Adams County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 29.7%
- Phone
- (720) 972-5120
- Area population (ZIP 80260)
- 34,861
- Area average commute
- 30.7 min
- Area median age
- 31.5
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 80260; 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, 2012-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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