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Excellent

#160 of 1,815 schools in CO

Top 9% in state

Trails West Elementary School

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

5400 SOUTH WACO STREET, Centennial, CO 80015

Enrollment

423

Student-Teacher

14.6:1

Score

8.5

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Colorado schools

#160 of 1,815

In Centennial

#8 of 24

public schools

In district

#11 of 70

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

Equity

9.0 / 10

Excellent

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Trails West Elementary School

8.5/10

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

Meadow Point Elementary School

4.8/10

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

Montessori School of Aurora

Nearby

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

About Trails West Elementary School

Trails West Elementary School is a public elementary school in Centennial, CO, part of Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah. Trails West Elementary School serves approximately 423 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Trails West Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10 and ranks #160 of 1,815 schools in CO.

Structured state assessment records for Trails West Elementary School show 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.9 pts above district
  • This school 8.5 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.6
  • CO avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.2Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-2.45 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.8Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency57.1% (2025 CMAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency56.5% (2025 CMAS)
Math vs. State Avg+21 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+11.6 pts
Overall Proficiency57% (2025 CMAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)45% (model expectation from 2025 CMAS)
vs. Expected+11.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile82th
Resources & Environment8.8Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,158
Chronic Absenteeism20.1%

Trails West Elementary School — Students at Trails West Elementary School score 57% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

33.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CO CMAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 56.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
39.5% (2025 CMAS)
ELA Proficiency 61.8% (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
93%
ELA
90%
2010
Math
94%
ELA
91%
2011
Math
75%
ELA
74%
2012
Math
78%
ELA
74%
2013
Math
72%
ELA
74%
2014
Math
32%
ELA
42%
2015
Math
41%
ELA
42%
2016
Math
42%
ELA
47%
2017
Math
41%
ELA
48%
2018
Math
49%
ELA
55%
2019
Math
49%
ELA
55%
2020*
Math
34.5%
ELA
67%
2021*
Math
34.5%
ELA
67%
2022
Math
52%
2025
Math
56.9%
ELA
56.2%

* 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: 8.2/10.

How Trails West Elementary School Compares

See how Trails West Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.5/10
91th percentile in CO
Academic
8.8/10
Excellent
Growth
8.2/10
Excellent
Environment
8.8/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
34%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
29 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
20.1%

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

5400 SOUTH WACO STREET, Centennial, CO 80015

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Trails West Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Heritage Heights Academy (rated 8.6/10, 1.4 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Indian Ridge Elementary School (rated 8.4/10, 0.9 miles away, in nearby Aurora), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Rolling Hills Elementary School (rated 8.3/10, 0.9 miles away, in nearby Aurora), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Centennial, see our Centennial schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.7 mi
School Distance Rating
Meadow Point Elementary School Aurora 0.5 mi 4.8
MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF AURORA Centennial 0.5 mi
GUIDEPOST MONTESSORI OF AURORA Aurora 1.0 mi
Rolling Hills Elementary School Aurora 0.9 mi 8.3
Fox Hollow Elementary School Aurora 1.2 mi 6.0
Indian Ridge Elementary School Aurora 0.9 mi 8.4
Peakview Elementary School Centennial 1.0 mi 6.1
The Journey Preschool Aurora 1.3 mi 5.4
Summit Elementary School Aurora 1.5 mi 4.9
Smoky Hill High School Aurora 1.2 mi 7.0
Independence Elementary School Aurora 1.3 mi 4.6
Laredo Middle School Aurora 1.3 mi 5.6
OUR LADY OF LORETO SCHOOL Foxfield 1.7 mi 6.9
Horizon Middle School Aurora 1.8 mi 5.0
REGIS JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL Aurora 1.6 mi 5.7
Heritage Heights Academy Centennial 1.4 mi 8.6
Falcon Creek Middle School Aurora 1.5 mi 6.7
Cimarron Elementary School Aurora 2.1 mi 4.7
Aspen Crossing Elementary School Centennial 1.8 mi 6.1
Timberline Elementary School Centennial 1.7 mi 5.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 80015 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$121,640

Median Home Value

$558,900

Median Rent

$2,190/mo

Population

72,155

College Educated

49.3%

Homeownership

82.2%

Avg Commute

29.6 min

Poverty Rate

4.4%

Median Age

38.8

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Bradley International School Denver, CO 8.5
Bromwell Elementary School Denver, CO 8.5
Crested Butte Elementary School Crested Butte, CO 8.5
Denver Center for International Studies at Fairmon Denver, CO 8.5
Horizons K-8 School Boulder, CO 8.5
Kohl Elementary School Broomfield, CO 8.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Trails West Elementary School

What grades does Trails West Elementary School serve?

Trails West Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Trails West Elementary School?

Trails West Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 423 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Trails West Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Trails West Elementary School is 14.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Trails West Elementary School rank in CO?

Trails West Elementary School ranks #160 of 1,815 schools in CO.

What is Trails West Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Trails West Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 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 Trails West Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Trails West Elementary School has 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Trails West Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Trails West Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Trails West Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Trails West Elementary School?

33.6% of students at Trails West 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
38 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
26 Some Transit
Bike Score
40 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
423
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
29
Free/Reduced Lunch
33.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Arapahoe County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
20.1%

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