Best Public Schools in Lakewood, CO

The city of Lakewood, Colorado is home to 47 schools that are part of the Jefferson County School District No. R-1, which is ranked 29th out of 115 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. The district serves students from elementary through high school, with 22 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, 15 high schools, and 3 alternative schools.

Some of the standout schools in Lakewood include Dennison Elementary School, which is ranked 2nd out of 933 Colorado elementary schools and has a 5-star rating, as well as Rooney Ranch Elementary School and Devinny Elementary School, both of which are ranked in the top 75 elementary schools in the state and have 5-star ratings. At the middle school level, Manning Options School stands out, ranking 33rd out of 480 Colorado middle schools with a 5-star rating. For high schools, Lakewood High School is the top performer, ranking 93rd out of 349 Colorado high schools with a 4-star rating.

While the district has several high-performing schools, there are also significant disparities in academic achievement across Lakewood's schools. Graduation rates are generally at the state average of 84.2%, but chronic absenteeism is a concern, with many schools reporting rates over 25%. Additionally, performance on state assessments varies widely, with top-performing schools like Dennison Elementary and Manning Options having over 70% proficiency in core subjects, while lower-performing schools like Alameda International Junior/Senior High and Lasley Elementary have proficiency rates below 20%. These findings suggest that students in Lakewood may not have equal access to quality education, and addressing these performance gaps could be an important area of focus for the district.