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Vanguard Classical School - West

Public, Charter Grades K-8

922^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 946 Colorado Elementary Schools

Better than 3% of Colorado elementary schools

Summary

Vanguard Classical School - West is a K-8 school located in Denver, CO, that enrolls 380 students but belongs to the Aurora Joint District No. 28, a district ranked in the bottom 8th percentile statewide, and it serves a high-poverty population, with 83.4% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

Academically, Vanguard scores well below state averages. On the 2025-26 CMAS exams, 15.5% of students were proficient in English Language Arts and 11.4% in Math, compared with state averages of 44.7% and 37.3%. The school ranks in the 3rd percentile statewide. It does outperform several nearby schools, including Boston K-8 School (11.7% ELA, 4.0% Math), Crawford Elementary School (8.1% ELA, 9.1% Math), and Ashley Elementary School (10.0% ELA, 6.5% Math). Math proficiency has gradually improved from 8.2% in 2022-23 to 11.4% in 2025-26, but ELA proficiency has slipped from 22.1% to 15.5% over the same period. Chronic absenteeism is 36.1% — better than many comparable schools like Montclair School of Academics and Enrichment (47.5%) and Lowry Elementary School (46.4%), but far higher than top performers like Aurora Academy Charter School (15.7%) and William (Bill) Roberts Ece-8 School (9.5%).

The most instructive comparison may be Aurora Academy Charter School, also in the same district. Despite serving a similar population (73.9% free/reduced lunch), Aurora Academy posts proficiency rates more than triple Vanguard's: 49.6% in ELA and 38.1% in Math. Vanguard does have the lowest student-teacher ratio among all nearby schools at 13.1-to-1, but that resource advantage has not translated into stronger outcomes so far. Subgroup results show the school ranks in the low single digits for low-income students, indicating major equity challenges. The overall picture is mixed: Vanguard is clearly above the weakest schools in its immediate area, but far below high-performing neighbors like Denver Language School and William (Bill) Roberts Ece-8 School, which serve significantly different student populations. The school's steady math gains and low dropout rate (0.9%) are bright spots, but declining ELA scores and wide gaps in early grades — especially 4th grade, where proficiency is roughly 8% — suggest meaningful work lies ahead.

380

Students ?

13.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,744

Per pupil spending ?

83.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

801 Yosemite Street
Denver, CO 80230-6087

(303) 691-2384

District: Aurora Joint District No. 28

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

64.7%

African American:

22.4%

Two or more races:

6.1%

See top rated Colorado elementary schools

Compare Vanguard Classical School - West to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 19th percentile in 2015 → 3rd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Colorado average (13% vs 40% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (3rd percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (36% vs 28% Colorado)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school13%

District avg22%

Colorado avg40%

Elementary school

922^nd of 946

Colorado public elementary schools ?

Bottom 3%▼ down 13 pts since 2016

From bottom 16% (2016) to bottom 3% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

429^th of 476

Colorado public middle schools ?

Bottom 10%▼ down 15 pts since 2016

From bottom 25% (2016) to bottom 10% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

27^th of 36Elementary Schools in the Aurora Joint District No. 28

105^th of 114Aurora Joint District No. 28 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	7.1	922 of 946	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	13.5	828 of 950	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	11.1	865 of 943	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.1	873 of 933	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	9.8	882 of 921	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	17.4	801 of 965	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	11.4	857 of 917	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	19.8	739 of 929	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	16.7	771 of 914	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	19.2	761 of 938	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	29.5	706 of 962	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	30.4	698 of 954	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	19.8	769 of 935	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	11.0	840 of 935	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	8.6	853 of 925	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2023	7.2	629 of 642	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	12.5	700 of 758	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	8.6	666 of 690	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2019	28.7	204 of 270	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.3	151 of 172	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	9.9	318 of 322	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	13.1	318 of 332	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2019	17.2	643 of 764	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	12.3	630 of 693	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	13.9	429 of 476	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	19.6	373 of 469	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.0	354 of 485	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.1	400 of 480	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	11.2	411 of 448	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	21.2	324 of 418	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	25.1	315 of 424	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	25.4	301 of 400	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	16.3	385 of 436	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	36.9	296 of 461	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	36.0	317 of 454	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	20.3	352 of 425	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	19.1	354 of 422	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	18.5	352 of 409	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	15.8	310 of 368	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.0	242 of 347	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	19.4	277 of 350	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.6	226 of 315	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	29.7	157 of 218	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.5	104 of 199	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.5	131 of 220	40.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	13.5	327 of 372	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	23.1	264 of 352	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.8	269 of 357	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.5	262 of 317	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Hispanic (2019)24th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2019)16th percentile~ school

Female (2023)2nd percentile-4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)1st percentile~ school

Middle school

Hispanic (2025)28th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2026)16th percentile+6 vs school

Male (2026)12th percentile~ school

By subject vs Colorado (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts16%-29 vs state

Science12%-24 vs state

Math11%-26 vs state

3.3

6 ratings · 4 written reviews

5★2

4★2

3★0

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1★2

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Rude staff. Always making kids like they are failures, and bad. I'm taking my kids out of this school. Close Quote

by a student
Tuesday, March 21, 2017

nice people Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, May 15, 2015

My child was in the Aurora school system, put her in the 2nd grade at Vanguard Classical school in Aurora. Her excitment to learn and wanting to go to school hit an all time high. We are very pleased with the teachers and the enviroment. Highly recommend this school. Her ability to read, write and math skills have tripled in the present of this school. Great job Vanguard Classical school Close Quote

by a parent
Monday, March 31, 2014

Great education model, and the teacher/student ratio is low and therefore students get a lot attention. I really like the Classical Model, Singapore Math and Riggs Reading program. My kids came from a DPS school and we've been happy every year. if you live near the school I would recommend checking the school out and consider attending even if you have to choice in. With the new K-12 school opening, there will be several openings in the K-8 Lowry Campus school. Close Quote

Schools Near Vanguard Classical School - West

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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
Vanguard Classical School - West	Public, Charter	K-8	801 Yosemite Street	Denver	80230	Denver County	Aurora Joint District No. 28	Yes	No	No	No	(303) 691-2384	380	29	13.1	83.4%	19 (5.0%)	85 (22.4%)	246 (64.7%)	2 (0.5%)	4 (1.1%)	1 (0.3%)	23 (6.1%)	7.1	922^nd of 946 public elementary schools	2.5%		13.5	828^th of 950 public elementary schools	12.8%	94	11.1	8.5	18.2	10.5	23.1	22.0	15.5	19.4	8.3	706.0	703.0	17.9	14.6	11.4	11.4	12.2	$22,744
Boston K-8 School	Public	PK, KG-8	1365 Boston St.	Aurora	80010	Arapahoe County	Aurora Joint District No. 28	No	No	No	Yes	(303) 364-6878	413	26	15.8	95.6%	17 (4.1%)	46 (11.1%)	310 (75.1%)	25 (6.1%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.1%)	5.5	941^st of 946 public elementary schools	0.5%		6.4	935^th of 950 public elementary schools	1.6%	6	692.0	14.6	9.3	12.8	20.0	712.0	11.7	696.0	703.0	708.0	708.0	12.5	701.0	4.0	689.0	704.0	$21,523
Fulton Academy of Excellence	Public	PK, KG-5	755 Fulton St	Aurora	80010	Arapahoe County	Aurora Joint District No. 28	No	No	No	Yes	(303) 364-8078	410	28	14.6	93.4%	25 (6.1%)	36 (8.8%)	323 (78.8%)	8 (2.0%)	4 (1.0%)	3 (0.7%)	11 (2.7%)	7	924^th of 946 public elementary schools	2.3%		6.4	933^rd of 950 public elementary schools	1.8%	9	19.0	9.4	16.9				14.5	14.0	700.0	711.0				7.1	8.3		$20,953
Montclair School of Academics and Enrichment	Public	PK, KG-5	1151 Newport Street	Denver	80220	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 424-5380	353	25	14.1	79.9%	58 (16.4%)	123 (34.8%)	126 (35.7%)	13 (3.7%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	31 (8.8%)	17.2	788^th of 946 public elementary schools	16.7%		16.5	787^th of 950 public elementary schools	17.2%	1	14.3	22.2	34.1				23.5	17.0	14.9	30.4				20.5	22.2		$21,252
Lowry Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8001 East Cedar Avenue	Denver	80230	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 424-5910	400	29	13.9	74.8%	81 (20.3%)	153 (38.3%)	125 (31.3%)	6 (1.5%)	4 (1.0%)	2 (0.5%)	29 (7.3%)	13	843^rd of 946 public elementary schools	10.9%		24.2	675^th of 950 public elementary schools	28.9%	168	8.6	29.8	23.5				20.0	13.2	25.4	17.4				18.4	14.5		$19,261
Denver Language School	Public, Charter	K-8	451 Newport Street	Denver	80220	Denver County	School District No. 1	Yes	No	No	No	(303) 557-0852	930	58	16.1	20.6%	381 (41.0%)	41 (4.4%)	286 (30.8%)	61 (6.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	158 (17.0%)	81.4	164^th of 946 public elementary schools	82.7%		82.2	149^th of 950 public elementary schools	84.3%	15	40.5	57.0	67.9	69.8	77.3	73.0	64.3	50.0	65.8	63.3	68.5	73.9	72.0	65.3	61.5	51.4	$13,312
Ashley Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1914 Syracuse Street	Denver	80220	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 424-9748	387	23	16.4	86.0%	14 (3.6%)	49 (12.7%)	306 (79.1%)	7 (1.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.6%)								(n/a)		20.0	707.0				10.0	709.0	9.3	708.0				6.5	692.0		$18,836
Aurora Academy Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	10251 East 1st Ave	Aurora	80010	Arapahoe County	Aurora Joint District No. 28	Yes	No	No	No	(303) 367-5983	536	40	13.4	73.9%	49 (9.1%)	272 (50.7%)	173 (32.3%)	10 (1.9%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (5.2%)	44.8	472^nd of 946 public elementary schools	50.1%		42.7	509^th of 950 public elementary schools	46.4%	37	52.8	31.6	51.8	44.9	60.9	60.8	49.6	49.1	18.4	39.3	28.6	45.3	54.9	38.1	35.7	43.1	$14,334
William (Bill) Roberts K-8 School	Public	K-8	2100 Akron Way	Denver	80238	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	No	(720) 424-2640	872	47	18.7	13.1%	563 (64.6%)	63 (7.2%)	126 (14.4%)	30 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	88 (10.1%)	95.5	25^th of 946 public elementary schools	97.4%		95.4	24^th of 950 public elementary schools	97.5%	1	77.4	74.5	77.2	79.5	89.7	87.3	80.7	82.8	71.9	78.5	78.2	87.1	96.2	82.0	66.7	76.0	$16,018
Crawford Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1600 Florence St	Aurora	80010	Arapahoe County	Aurora Joint District No. 28	No	No	No	Yes	(303) 340-3290	567	36	15.5	97.7%	17 (3.0%)	80 (14.1%)	401 (70.7%)	49 (8.6%)	6 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.5%)	5.7	940^th of 946 public elementary schools	0.6%					(n/a)	696.0	695.0	11.1				8.1	707.0	699.0	11.1				9.1	5.7		$19,728

Frequently Asked Questions about Vanguard Classical School - West

How many students attend Vanguard Classical School - West?

In the 2024-25 school year, 380 students attended Vanguard Classical School - West.

What is the racial makeup of Vanguard Classical School - West?

Students at Vanguard Classical School - West are 65% Hispanic, 22% African American, 6% Two or more races, 5% White, 1% American Indian.

What district is Vanguard Classical School - West in?

Aurora Joint District No. 28

Is Vanguard Classical School - West a good school?

Vanguard Classical School - West ranks in the bottom 2.5% of Colorado elementary schools.

Rate Vanguard Classical School - West!

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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.