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Prairie Hills Elementary School

Q: Is Prairie Hills Elementary School a good school?

Prairie Hills Elementary School ranks 402 nd of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

402^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 946 Colorado Elementary Schools

Better than 58% of Colorado elementary schools

Summary

Prairie Hills Elementary School is a K-5 school in Colorado Springs, CO, serving 348 students in the highly rated Academy School District No. 20. The school consistently scores above state averages in English Language Arts and math, but noticeably below the district’s own high bar. In 2025–2026, ELA proficiency was 47.7% (state: 44.7%, district: 61.8%) and math was 44.3% (state: 37.3%, district: 54.7%), placing the school in the 57th percentile statewide — a solid mid-tier result within a top-tier district.

One of the most distinctive features of Prairie Hills is its student population. The free/reduced lunch rate jumped from 23.6% to 40.8% in just two years, making it far more economically diverse than nearby D20 elementaries like Ranch Creek Elementary (13.8%), Chinook Trail Elementary (16.9%), and Academy Endeavour Elementary (23.3%). Despite this, chronic absenteeism is a relative strength at 18.4% — below the district’s 19.7% and well below the state’s 28.4%. Interestingly, two nearby Colorado Springs School District No. 11 schools, Freedom Elementary and Scott Elementary, serve comparable or higher-need populations yet outperform Prairie Hills in both math and ELA, suggesting district reputation alone doesn’t tell the whole story.

Academically, the school shows encouraging signs. The gap between Prairie Hills and the district narrows dramatically by grade: in 5th grade ELA, the school’s 59.6% proficiency nearly matches the district’s 64.1%, compared to a 20-point gap in 3rd grade. Students also tend to perform relatively well compared to other Colorado schools serving economically disadvantaged students. However, 5th-grade science scores have swung wildly (31.4% to 59.3% to 36.8%), and the school’s overall state percentile has slipped from 71st a few years ago to 57th. With a low student-teacher ratio of 14.2, class size isn’t the issue. Prairie Hills remains a school worth watching — one that serves a changing community with mixed results, but with clear strengths in supporting students who face economic challenges.

348

Students ?

14.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,506

Per pupil spending ?

40.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

8025 Telegraph Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80920-7095

(719) 234-5100

District: Academy School District No. 20

Students who attend Prairie Hills Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Timberview Middle School
High:	Liberty High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

70.4%

Hispanic:

17.2%

Two or more races:

7.8%

See top rated Colorado elementary schools

Compare Prairie Hills Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 67th percentile in 2016 → 58th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the Colorado median (58th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 9 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Near the bottom of Academy School District No. 20's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school45%

District avg57%

Colorado avg41%

402^nd of 946

Colorado public elementary schools ?

Top 42%▼ down 10 pts since 2016

From top 33% (2016) to top 42% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

18^th of 22Elementary Schools in the Academy School District No. 20

10^th of 114Academy School District No. 20 among Colorado districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	54.8	402 of 946	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	62.2	343 of 950	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.2	372 of 943	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.8	272 of 933	70.8%	★★★★☆
2022	65.3	295 of 921	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.3	379 of 710	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	63.1	331 of 965	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.6	336 of 917	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	68.5	259 of 929	72.1%	★★★★☆
2016	63.5	298 of 914	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2015	62.7	310 of 938	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2014	55.4	447 of 962	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2013	60.0	402 of 954	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	66.7	333 of 935	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	71.6	267 of 935	71.4%	★★★★☆
2010	67.4	318 of 925	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	70.3	263 of 872	69.8%	★★★★☆
2008	75.1	198 of 849	76.7%	★★★★☆
2007	78.1	159 of 852	81.3%	★★★★☆
2006	70.5	252 of 829	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2005	75.7	199 of 823	75.8%	★★★★☆
2004	78.8	160 of 808	80.2%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	51.7	317 of 695	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.2	268 of 694	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.9	271 of 684	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.6	268 of 642	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.1	257 of 595	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	24.6	305 of 351	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	48.9	362 of 758	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	49.6	317 of 690	54.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	53.6	129 of 322	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.2	155 of 365	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	31.6	198 of 265	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	80.0	31 of 332	90.7%	★★★★★
2018	81.0	25 of 308	91.9%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	41.5	383 of 697	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	52.3	308 of 700	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.8	269 of 683	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.8	237 of 649	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.0	250 of 594	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.4	207 of 352	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	63.1	241 of 764	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.1	294 of 693	57.6%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	30.1	410 of 547	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	40.4	338 of 551	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.0	346 of 539	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.7	271 of 525	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.8	238 of 454	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.2	333 of 596	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	32.2	238 of 337	29.4%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)60th percentile~ school

Female (2026)54th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2026)45th percentile-12 vs school

White (2026)25th percentile-32 vs school

By subject vs Colorado (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts48%+3 vs state

Math44%+7 vs state

Science37%~ state avg

1.8

4 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★0

4★1

3★0

2★0

1★3

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, April 16, 2018

We haven't had any problems. Our older daughter went K-5th grade, and youngest is in 1st grade right now. We are near another school (between 2 elementary schools) but have always liked the teachers and have not considered pulling out and going to another school. Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, March 9, 2016

We moved to Colorado Springs over the summer so this was our first year at Prairie Hills. This is by far the worst school we have ever dealt with. The administration is horrible and the teachers are just as bad. They have taken 2 children who loved school and completely turned them around to hate everything about it. They have zero communication with the parents and do not seem to care whatsoever about your input. Horrible administration, horrible teachers, horrible school! The only thing to look forward to in regards to Prairie Hills is leaving, considering pulling them out mid year to transfer. If you care about your kids education and willingness to learn find a different school! Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, May 28, 2015

This is our first year at this school and it will be the last. The administration at this school are the absolute worst type of people in charge. My child had a few incidents with bullies at the beginning of the school year and as a result of that has been unfairly singled out if anything else has happened where my child has been involved. Meaning he has been labeled a "trouble causer" when he was the victim and has been unjustly treated ALL YEAR LONG. My input on his consequences for the many things were he was a victim not the instigator, has fallen on deaf ears. The assistant principal thinks she is god at this school and her word is the final one. The principal is of the same mind. The administration has meetings with your kids when there is a supposed "incident" that you won't find out about from them only from your kids, this is very troubling and inappropriate to me. RUN as fast as you can from this school and this district for that matter. There is no accountability at any level and zero transparency and communication. If you try to speak to the superintendent you get the run around. D-20 is touted as the best in Colorado Springs but that is the polar opposite of what my kids and I have experienced in one school year. The administration needs to be fired and charged with harassment. Close Quote

Schools Near Prairie Hills Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CMAS English Language Arts (2026)							CMAS Math (2026)							CMAS Science (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CMAS English Language Arts 3rd Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 4th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 6th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 7th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 8th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts All Grades	CMAS Math 3rd Grade	CMAS Math 4th Grade	CMAS Math 5th Grade	CMAS Math 6th Grade	CMAS Math 7th Grade	CMAS Math 8th Grade	CMAS Math All Grades	CMAS Science 5th Grade	CMAS Science 8th Grade	Total
Prairie Hills Elementary School	Public	K-5	8025 Telegraph Drive	Colorado Springs	80920	El Paso County	Academy School District No. 20	No	No	No	Yes	(719) 234-5100	348	25	14.2	40.8%	245 (70.4%)	8 (2.3%)	60 (17.2%)	3 (0.9%)	4 (1.1%)	1 (0.3%)	27 (7.8%)	54.8	402^nd of 946 public elementary schools	57.5%		62.2	343^rd of 950 public elementary schools	63.9%	59	33.3	50.0	59.6				47.7	36.8	51.6	43.9				44.3	36.8		$15,506
Freedom Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5280 Butterfield Drive	Colorado Springs	80923	El Paso County	Colorado Springs School District No. 11	No	No	No	No	(719) 228-0800	407	26	15.8	41.8%	240 (59.0%)	23 (5.7%)	87 (21.4%)	14 (3.4%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	40 (9.8%)	79.1	182^nd of 946 public elementary schools	80.8%		78.8	193^rd of 950 public elementary schools	79.7%	11	47.1	55.3	83.0				59.8	62.9	62.3	66.0				63.5	47.2		$19,162
Explorer Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4190 Bardot Drive	Colorado Springs	80920	El Paso County	Academy School District No. 20	No	No	No	No	(719) 234-4400	470	29	16.0	27.4%	287 (61.1%)	19 (4.0%)	97 (20.6%)	11 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	53 (11.3%)	88.5	88^th of 946 public elementary schools	90.7%		77.7	204^th of 950 public elementary schools	78.5%	116	66.7	72.7	77.5				72.8	78.3	62.1	60.8				66.3	52.6		$13,588
Ranch Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	9155 Tutt Boulevard	Colorado Springs	80924	El Paso County	Academy School District No. 20	No	No	No	No	(719) 234-5500	578	30	19.0	13.8%	368 (63.7%)	26 (4.5%)	106 (18.3%)	18 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (10.4%)	83.3	147^th of 946 public elementary schools	84.5%		83.8	130^th of 950 public elementary schools	86.3%	17	66.3	69.9	81.1				72.2	67.0	52.4	64.4				61.1	39.8		$13,016
Frontier Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3755 Meadow Ridge Drive	Colorado Springs	80920	El Paso County	Academy School District No. 20	No	No	No	Yes	(719) 234-4600	262	24	10.9	48.1%	142 (54.2%)	7 (2.7%)	76 (29.0%)	5 (1.9%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	30 (11.5%)	46.4	460^th of 946 public elementary schools	51.4%		45.8	480^th of 950 public elementary schools	49.5%	20	44.1	53.6	52.1				50.0	47.1	34.6	25.5				34.6	28.3		$18,917
Legacy Peak Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8701 Wolf Valley Drive	Colorado Springs	80924	El Paso County	Academy School District No. 20	No	No	No	No	(719) 234-5900	652	35	18.8	23.5%	359 (55.1%)	40 (6.1%)	121 (18.6%)	50 (7.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	81 (12.4%)	53.2	410^th of 946 public elementary schools	56.7%		45	490^th of 950 public elementary schools	48.4%	80	41.8	54.5	50.0				48.8	43.3	46.5	30.5				40.3	38.1		$11,997
Academy Endeavour Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3475 Hampton Park Drive	Colorado Springs	80920	El Paso County	Academy School District No. 20	No	No	No	No	(719) 234-5600	347	26	13.6	23.3%	239 (68.9%)	4 (1.2%)	71 (20.5%)	9 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (6.9%)	63.8	317^th of 946 public elementary schools	66.5%		67.7	292^nd of 950 public elementary schools	69.3%	25	36.2	59.5	58.6				51.2	34.5	66.7	46.4				47.3	53.6		$15,431
Chinook Trail Elementary School	Public	K-5	11795 Grand Lawn Circle	Colorado Springs	80924	El Paso County	Academy School District No. 20	No	No	No	No	(719) 234-5700	632	34	18.6	16.9%	366 (57.9%)	22 (3.5%)	112 (17.7%)	57 (9.0%)	2 (0.3%)	7 (1.1%)	66 (10.4%)	87.2	105^th of 946 public elementary schools	88.9%		87.9	101^st of 950 public elementary schools	89.4%	4	63.9	66.3	78.0				69.8	66.0	62.4	78.0				69.2	48.1		$12,863
New Summit Charter Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	7899 Lexington Drive	Colorado Springs	80920	El Paso County	Academy School District No. 20	Yes	No	No	No	(719) 283-1731	628	37	17.2	37.9%	386 (61.5%)	22 (3.5%)	135 (21.5%)	23 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	60 (9.6%)	37	553^rd of 946 public elementary schools	41.5%		43.8	505^th of 950 public elementary schools	46.8%	48	23.2	57.6	41.5	42.9	50.9	44.8	42.6	26.1	37.3	21.5	27.0	34.0	41.4	29.9	32.3	51.7	$14,290
Pioneer Elementary School	Public	K-5	3663 Woodland Hills Dr	Colorado Springs	80918	El Paso County	Academy School District No. 20	No	No	No	Yes	(719) 234-5000	382	25	15.2	48.4%	181 (47.4%)	15 (3.9%)	118 (30.9%)	8 (2.1%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (15.2%)	71.7	249^th of 946 public elementary schools	73.7%		62.7	338^th of 950 public elementary schools	64.4%	89	55.7	71.7	59.3				61.6	47.1	57.4	46.3				50.0	42.6		$15,468

Frequently Asked Questions about Prairie Hills Elementary School

What district is Prairie Hills Elementary School in?

Academy School District No. 20

What is the racial makeup of Prairie Hills Elementary School?

Students at Prairie Hills Elementary School are 70% White, 17% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 2% African American, 1% American Indian.

Is Prairie Hills Elementary School a good school?

Prairie Hills Elementary School ranks 402^nd of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Prairie Hills Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Prairie Hills Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Timberview Middle School
High : Liberty High School

How many students attend Prairie Hills Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 348 students attended Prairie Hills Elementary School.

Rate Prairie Hills Elementary School!

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Latest Colorado data All new data »

2025–26 CMAS, PSAT10, PSAT9 & SAT test scoresAug 19, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJan 13, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataAug 27, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Colorado Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.