Parr Elementary School

Parr Elementary School is a public elementary school in Arvada, Colorado, serving 185 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Jefferson County School District No. R-1, which is ranked 35 out of 115 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating.

Despite being part of a relatively high-performing district, Parr Elementary consistently ranks in the bottom quartile of Colorado elementary schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's proficiency rates on the CMAS assessments are significantly lower than the district and state averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2022-2023, only 23.5% of Parr students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 50.8% in the district and 43.7% statewide. In Math, only 10.4% of Parr students were proficient or better, compared to 38.7% in the district and 32.9% statewide. Additionally, Parr has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 66.53% to 71.35% over the past 3 years, which is much higher than the district average.

Comparing Parr Elementary to nearby schools in the same district, such as Hackberry Hill Elementary (ranked 105 out of 933 schools) and Weber Elementary (ranked 488 out of 933 schools), highlights the significant challenges Parr faces. These schools have much higher proficiency rates on the CMAS assessments and a lower percentage of free/reduced lunch recipients. The high percentage of economically disadvantaged students at Parr Elementary may be a contributing factor to the school's low academic performance, presenting an opportunity for the district and school leadership to implement targeted interventions and strategies to improve student outcomes.