School District No. 1

School District No. 1 is home to 203 schools, including 114 elementary schools, 34 middle schools, 51 high schools, and 4 alternative schools, serving a diverse student population across the area. The district features a mix of high-performing charter and magnet schools as well as some struggling traditional public schools, highlighting stark disparities in academic achievement.

Several standout schools in the district include Denver School of the Arts, ranked 8th out of 349 Colorado high schools, Polaris Elementary School, ranked 1st out of 933 Colorado elementary schools, and Steele Elementary School, ranked 26th. These schools boast exceptional test scores and consistently high performance. In contrast, schools like Montbello High School and North High School struggle, with only 18% and 7% of 11th graders proficient or better in SAT Mathematics, respectively.

Across the School District No. 1, there is a wide range in student racial makeup, free and reduced lunch rates, and student-teacher ratios, reflecting the diverse socioeconomic and demographic landscape of the area. The district as a whole is ranked 79th out of 115 districts in Colorado and is rated 2 out of 5 stars by SchoolDigger, indicating a need for targeted interventions and support to address the disparities in academic performance and ensure equitable access to high-quality education for all students.