Very Good
#652 of 1,815 schools in CO
Top 36% in state
University Prep - Steele St.
Elementary School · School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C
3230 EAST 38TH AVENUE, Denver, CO 80205
Enrollment
333
Student-Teacher
12.8:1
Score
7.0
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
333
Student-Teacher
12.8:1
Score
7.0
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Denver
#92 of 222
public schools
Colorado elementary schools
#435 of 1,006
In district
#88 of 196
School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C
School environment
9.3 / 10
Exceptional
About University Prep - Steele St.
University Prep - Steele St. is a charter elementary school located in the heart of Denver, Colorado. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, the school has an enrollment of 333 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 12.8:1 with 26 full-time equivalent teachers. The school operates as part of the regular public education system but enjoys the flexibility of charter status to tailor its educational programs.
University Prep - Steele St. focuses on providing a supportive learning environment, though test scores show that there is room for academic growth. With an ELA proficiency rate at 23% and math proficiency at 25%, the school places emphasis on student development beyond standardized testing metrics. The MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 out of 10 reflects this ongoing journey towards improving educational outcomes.
Located in a bustling city setting, University Prep - Steele St. is immersed within Denver's vibrant community, offering students opportunities to engage with diverse cultural and educational resources available in the area.
What Parents Should Know
University Prep - Steele St. is a charter school — a publicly funded school that operates with more autonomy than traditional district schools. Charter schools often have distinct educational models or specialties. Parents should understand the school's specific mission, enrollment process, and how its approach differs from nearby district options.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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University Prep - Steele St. — Students at University Prep - Steele St. score 26% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 16%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
91%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CO CMAS (2024-25)
Based on 13 test records from CO state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 6.3/10.
How University Prep - Steele St. Compares
See how University Prep - Steele St. performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 27% (2019) to 30.56% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 32% (2019) to 21.99% (2025).
Location
3230 EAST 38TH AVENUE, Denver, CO 80205
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering University Prep - Steele St. may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. French American School of Denver (rated 9.3/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Stedman Elementary School (rated 8.3/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Columbine Elementary School (rated 8.2/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Denver, see our Denver schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.8 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Bruce Randolph School Denver | 0.2 mi | 4.6 |
| Colorado High School Charter - GES Denver | 0.5 mi | 7.2 |
| HOPE CENTER Denver | 0.4 mi | — |
| INNER-CITY SCHOOL Denver | 0.5 mi | — |
| International Academy of Denver at Harrington Denver | 0.5 mi | 4.8 |
| Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy Denver | 0.8 mi | 7.2 |
| Columbine Elementary School Denver | 0.9 mi | 8.2 |
| Swansea Elementary School Denver | 0.9 mi | 5.0 |
| Prep Academy Denver | 1.0 mi | 7.8 |
| Wyatt Academy Denver | 1.0 mi | 7.1 |
| Stedman Elementary School Denver | 1.1 mi | 8.3 |
| French American School of Denver Denver | 1.3 mi | 9.3 |
| DSST: Cole Middle School Denver | 1.1 mi | 6.3 |
| DSST: Cole High School Denver | 1.1 mi | 7.0 |
| ANNUNCIATION Denver | 1.1 mi | 5.5 |
| Manual High School Denver | 1.3 mi | 5.2 |
| McAuliffe Manual Middle School Denver | 1.3 mi | 5.6 |
| Cole Arts and Science Academy Denver | 1.3 mi | 6.8 |
| Gilliam School Denver | 1.5 mi | — |
| MONTVIEW COMMUNITY PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN Denver | 1.8 mi | — |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 80205 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$98,770
Median Home Value
$627,600
Median Rent
$1,816/mo
Population
33,856
College Educated
61.3%
Homeownership
38%
Avg Commute
25.6 min
Poverty Rate
17%
Median Age
33.4
Community Profile
The community surrounding University Prep - Steele St. has a median household income of $98,770. It is a well-educated community where 61% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $627,600, with a median rent of $1,816/month. The area has a poverty rate of 17.0%. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Acres Green Elementary School Littleton, CO | 7.0 |
| BOULDER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Boulder, CO | 7.0 |
| Broadmoor Elementary School Colorado Springs, CO | 7.0 |
| Foothills Elementary School Lakewood, CO | 7.0 |
| Knowledge Quest Academy Milliken, CO | 7.0 |
| Lawrence Elementary School Arvada, CO | 7.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about University Prep - Steele St.
What grades does University Prep - Steele St. serve?
University Prep - Steele St. serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend University Prep - Steele St.?
University Prep - Steele St. has an enrollment of approximately 333 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at University Prep - Steele St.?
The student-teacher ratio at University Prep - Steele St. is 12.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does University Prep - Steele St. rank in CO?
University Prep - Steele St. is ranked #652 out of 1,815 schools in CO.
What is University Prep - Steele St.'s MySchoolScout rating?
University Prep - Steele St. has a composite rating of 7.0 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at University Prep - Steele St.?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, University Prep - Steele St. has 25.0% math proficiency and 23.2% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is University Prep - Steele St. a charter school?
Yes, University Prep - Steele St. is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.
Is University Prep - Steele St. a Title I school?
No, University Prep - Steele St. is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for University Prep - Steele St.?
91.0% of students at University Prep - Steele St. qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (5,773/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Denver). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 333
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 26
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 91.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Denver County
- Phone
- (303) 329-8412
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C- District Enrollment
- 88,258
- Schools in District
- 197
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $17,206
- District Rank
- #88 of 196
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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