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Average

#1251 of 1,815 schools in CO

Vanguard Classical School - West

Elementary School · Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A

801 YOSEMITE STREET, Denver, CO 80230

Charter

Enrollment

365

Student-Teacher

13.5:1

Score

5.2

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Colorado schools

#1,251 of 1,815

In Denver

#163 of 222

public schools

In district

#28 of 56

Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A

School environment

8.8 / 10

Excellent

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Vanguard Classical School - West

5.2/10

Elementary School in Denver · grades Kindergarten – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Bishop Machebeuf High School

7.2/10

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

Primrose School at Lowry

Nearby

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

About Vanguard Classical School - West

Vanguard Classical School - West is a public elementary school in Denver, CO, part of Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A. Vanguard Classical School - West serves approximately 365 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-8th, and has a 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Vanguard Classical School - West has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.2 out of 10 and ranks #1,251 of 1,815 schools in CO.

Structured state assessment records for Vanguard Classical School - West show 22% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 37% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 5.2 · Average
  • District avg 5.4
  • CO avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

Vanguard Classical School - West is a charter school: publicly funded, but run with more independence than a traditional district school. Many charters are built around a specific model or focus, so it's worth understanding this one's mission, how enrollment works, and how it differs from the district schools nearby.

37% of students at Vanguard Classical School - West were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.5Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-4.06 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics4.0Below Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency9.8% (2025 CMAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency19.8% (2025 CMAS)
Math vs. State Avg-26.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-25.1 pts
Overall Proficiency15% (2025 CMAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)18% (model expectation from 2025 CMAS)
vs. Expected-3.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile20th
Resources & Environment8.8Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,118
Chronic Absenteeism36.7%

Vanguard Classical School - West — Students at Vanguard Classical School - West score 15% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 18%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

87.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CO CMAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 21.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
36.5% (2025 CMAS)
ELA Proficiency 36.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
45.4% (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
71%
ELA
80%
2010
Math
73%
ELA
81%
2011
Math
40%
ELA
56%
2012
Math
42%
ELA
64%
2013
Math
40%
ELA
64%
2014
Math
9%
ELA
26%
2015
Math
11%
ELA
26%
2016
Math
12%
ELA
32%
2017
Math
11%
ELA
26%
2018
Math
15%
ELA
27%
2019
Math
15%
ELA
27%
2020*
Math
2.5%
ELA
17%
2021*
Math
2.5%
ELA
17%
2022
Math
5%
2025
Math
12.5%
ELA
23.7%

* 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: 4.5/10.

How Vanguard Classical School - West Compares

See how Vanguard Classical School - West performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.2/10
31th percentile in CO
Academic
4.0/10
Below Average
Growth
4.5/10
Below Average
Environment
8.8/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
88%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
27 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
36.7%

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

801 YOSEMITE STREET, Denver, CO 80230

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Vanguard Classical School - West may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Denver Language School (rated 9.2/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is William (Bill) Roberts ECE-8 School (rated 9.0/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF DENVER (rated 7.8/10, 0.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Denver, see our Denver schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.2 mi
School Distance Rating
BISHOP MACHEBEUF HIGH SCHOOL Denver 0.4 mi 7.2
PRIMROSE SCHOOL AT LOWRY Denver 0.5 mi
New America School - Aurora Aurora 0.6 mi 4.5
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF DENVER Denver 0.7 mi 7.8
Boston K-8 School Aurora 0.7 mi 4.0
STANLEY BRITISH PRIMARY SCHOOL Denver 0.9 mi 7.0
Fulton Academy of Excellence Aurora 0.9 mi 4.9
PADDINGTON STATION Denver 1.0 mi
Lowry Elementary School Denver 1.2 mi 5.0
DSST: Montview Middle School Denver 1.3 mi 6.4
DSST: Montview High School Denver 1.3 mi 8.6
Aurora West College Preparatory Academy Aurora 1.1 mi 4.4
Ashley Elementary School Denver 1.3 mi 3.6
William (Bill) Roberts ECE-8 School Denver 1.3 mi 9.0
ST JAMES CATHOLIC SCHOOL Denver 1.2 mi 6.8
Montclair School of Academics and Enrichment Denver 1.2 mi 5.1
Aurora Academy Charter School Aurora 1.3 mi 5.2
EINSTEIN ACADEMY Denver 1.2 mi
Crawford Elementary School Aurora 1.3 mi 5.3
Denver Language School Denver 1.2 mi 9.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 80230 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$100,968

Median Home Value

$798,800

Median Rent

$2,025/mo

Population

10,811

College Educated

74.4%

Homeownership

50%

Avg Commute

24.8 min

Poverty Rate

7.7%

Median Age

45

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Cottonwood Plains Elementary School Ft. Collins, CO 5.2
Dora Moore ECE-8 School Denver, CO 5.2
Estes Park K-5 School Estes Park, CO 5.2
GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL Denver, CO 5.2
Hunters Glen Elementary School Thornton, CO 5.2
North Star Elementary School Denver, CO 5.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Vanguard Classical School - West

What grades does Vanguard Classical School - West serve?

Vanguard Classical School - West serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend Vanguard Classical School - West?

Vanguard Classical School - West has an enrollment of approximately 365 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Vanguard Classical School - West?

The student-teacher ratio at Vanguard Classical School - West is 13.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Vanguard Classical School - West rank in CO?

Vanguard Classical School - West ranks #1,251 of 1,815 schools in CO.

What is Vanguard Classical School - West's MySchoolScout rating?

Vanguard Classical School - West has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.2 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 Vanguard Classical School - West?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Vanguard Classical School - West has 22% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 37% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Vanguard Classical School - West a charter school?

Yes, Vanguard Classical School - West is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.

Is Vanguard Classical School - West a Title I school?

No, Vanguard Classical School - West is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Vanguard Classical School - West?

87.9% of students at Vanguard Classical School - West 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
49 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
34 Some Transit
Bike Score
71 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
365
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
27
Free/Reduced Lunch
87.9%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Denver County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
36.7%

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