Best Elementary Schools in Fort Collins, CO

The city of Fort Collins, Colorado is home to 28 elementary schools, primarily within the Poudre School District R-1, with a few charter schools belonging to the Thompson School District R-2j and the State Charter School Institute. These schools serve students from kindergarten through 5th grade and provide a range of educational opportunities in the Fort Collins area.

Several elementary schools in Fort Collins stand out for their exceptional performance. Zach Elementary School consistently ranks among the top 7 elementary schools in Colorado, with over 80% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and Math. Other high-performing schools include Traut Core Elementary School, McGraw Elementary School, Shepardson Elementary School, and Coyote Ridge Elementary School. These schools consistently rank among the top 124 elementary schools in the state, with strong test scores and high proficiency rates in core subjects.

However, the data also reveals a stark contrast in performance between the top-ranked and lower-ranked schools in Fort Collins. While the highest-performing schools have proficiency rates over 70%, some lower-performing schools, such as Linton Elementary School and Irish Elementary School, have proficiency rates under 40%. This disparity suggests that while Fort Collins has several exceptional elementary schools, there are also significant challenges facing some of the lower-performing institutions in the area.