Best Public Schools in Fort Collins, CO

The city of Fort Collins, Colorado is home to a diverse array of 48 schools, including 28 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, 8 high schools, and 5 alternative schools. These schools are spread across the Poudre School District R-1, the State Charter School Institute, and the Thompson School District R-2j.

Some of the standout schools in the area include Fossil Ridge High School, ranked 16th out of 328 Colorado high schools with a 5-star rating and exceptional performance on standardized tests. Traut Core Elementary School and Zach Elementary School are also highly ranked, with 5-star ratings and over 80% of students proficient in English Language Arts and Math. Additionally, the Compass Community Collaborative School is a high-performing alternative school, ranked 26th out of 328 Colorado high schools.

While the overall four-year graduation rate for schools in the area is 84.2%, which is above the state average, there are significant performance gaps between the highest-performing and lowest-performing schools, particularly in standardized test scores. This suggests that there may be inequities in educational opportunities and resources across the district. Additionally, the district faces concerns with high chronic absenteeism rates, which may be impacting student learning and achievement.