Summary:
Fountain School District No. 8 serves approximately 7,727 students across 12 schools in the Fountain-Colorado Springs area, including 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools, with several campuses serving families connected to Fort Carson. The district ranks 80th out of 115 Colorado districts—the 30th percentile—with a 2-star rating, indicating performance generally below state averages. However, achievement varies widely between schools, so parents will find meaningful differences depending on which school their child attends.
Jordahl Elementary School is the district's clear standout, ranking in the 67th percentile with a 3-star rating and posting the highest CMAS scores in the district: 48.1% ELA proficiency and 54.4% math proficiency, both above state averages. Jordahl has improved steadily from the 52nd percentile in 2023-24. Fountain-Fort Carson High School excels at keeping students on track, earning a 93.1% graduation rate and 0.6% dropout rate—both significantly better than state averages—despite SAT proficiency below state levels. Eagleside Elementary School has the district's lowest chronic absenteeism at 19.0% and solid academics, with ELA, math, and science proficiency above district rates.
At the other end, Welte Education Center faces serious challenges, including 70.7% chronic absenteeism, a 63.2% graduation rate, and a 19th percentile ranking. Aragon Elementary School has the district's lowest math proficiency at 13.0% and a 45.0% chronic absenteeism rate. Abrams Elementary School and Mountainside Elementary School also rank in the bottom quartile. The achievement gap is stark—Jordahl's math proficiency is 41 points higher than Aragon's. Both Fountain Middle School and Carson Middle School score below state averages, though Carson improved dramatically from the 17th to 32nd percentile. Notably, poverty is not destiny: Mesa Elementary School has a 51.5% free/reduced lunch rate yet outperforms the district in math.
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