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Boulder Universal

Q: Is Boulder Universal a good school?

Boulder Universal ranks 77 th of 340 Colorado alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Virtual, Alternative Grades K-12

77^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 340 Colorado Alternative Schools

Better than 77% of Colorado alternative schools

Summary

Boulder Universal is a small alternative K-12 school in Boulder, Colorado, serving 231 students within the Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 — a district rated in the 96th percentile of Colorado school districts. The school's greatest academic strength is literacy: on the 2025-2026 11th-grade SAT, 90% of Boulder Universal students were proficient in Reading and Writing, matching Peak to Peak Charter School and far exceeding the state rate of 60%. This places the school among the top-performing nearby options for language arts, just behind Stargate Charter School and Westgate Community School.

Mathematics tells a different story. Only 38% of Boulder Universal 11th-graders were proficient in SAT Math, a significant drop from 56% the prior year, and well below the district rate of 56%. Nearby charters such as Stargate Charter School (78%), Peak to Peak Charter School (69%), and Prospect Ridge Academy (65%) posted far higher math proficiency. The 90% reading versus 38% math gap is one of the most distinctive features of the school's academic profile, suggesting that its flexible, self-paced model may support literacy-based learning better than the sequential skill-building that math requires.

The school's graduation rate is a concern: 75.0% in 2024-2025, compared to 93.3% for the district and 85.6% for the state. This is lower than most nearby alternatives, including Destinations Career Academy of Colorado (97.5%) and Twin Peaks Classical Academy (96.8%). However, chronic absenteeism improved to 15.5% in 2024-2025 — below the district average of 17.5% and dramatically better than online peers like Five Star Online Academy (62.2%) and Destinations Career Academy of Colorado (43.8%). With a low student-teacher ratio of 14.1:1, Boulder Universal is best suited for students who thrive in a smaller, flexible, literacy-rich environment — though families should pay close attention to math support and graduation planning.

231

Students ?

14.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$26,980

Per pupil spending ?

Kindergartners fully immunized against measles (MMR) (2025-26)

Exemptions: 50% (MMR)

6500 East Arapahoe Road
Boulder, CO 80303-1407

(720) 561-6253

District: Boulder Valley School District No. Re2

Racial breakdown:

White:

62.8%

Hispanic:

20.3%

Two or more races:

6.9%

See top rated Colorado elementary schools

Compare Boulder Universal to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 14th percentile in 2013 → 77th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Colorado average (64% vs 43% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 23% of Colorado alternative schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 63 percentile points since 2013

Worth a look

!Graduation rate below the Colorado average (75% vs 86%)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school64%

District avg64%

Colorado avg43%

77^th of 340

Colorado public high schools ?

Top 23%▼ down 11 pts since 2021

From top 12% (2021) to top 23% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2Alternative Schools in the Boulder Valley School District No. Re2

5^th of 114Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 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	78.1	77 of 340	77.4%	★★★★☆
2025	89.9	28 of 328	91.5%	★★★★★
2021	83.7	25 of 210	88.1%	★★★★☆
2014	31.9	268 of 369	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	12.6	299 of 349	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2021	77.9	54 of 239	77.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2021	94.8	9 of 240	96.3%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2021	85.9	24 of 225	89.3%	★★★★☆

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)

Male (2021)96th percentile+8 vs school

White (2021)89th percentile~ school

Female (2021)77th percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs Colorado (2025-2026) ?

Reading and Writing90%+31 vs state

Mathematics38%+6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Boulder Universal

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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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				PSAT10 Reading and Writing (2026)	PSAT10 Mathematics (2026)	PSAT9 Reading and Writing (2026)	PSAT9 Mathematics (2026)	SAT Reading and Writing (2026)	SAT Mathematics (2026)	CMAS English Language Arts (2026)							CMAS Math (2026)							CMAS Science (2026)			Vaccination (2025-26)		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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT10 Reading and Writing 10th Grade	PSAT10 Mathematics 10th Grade	PSAT9 Reading and Writing 9th Grade	PSAT9 Mathematics 9th Grade	SAT Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	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	CMAS Science 11th Grade	Vaccination: Kindergartners fully immunized against measles (MMR)	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Total
Boulder Universal	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	6500 East Arapahoe Road	Boulder	80303	Boulder County	Boulder Valley School District No. Re2	No	No	Yes	No	(720) 561-6253	231	16	14.1	—	145 (62.8%)	7 (3.0%)	47 (20.3%)	9 (3.9%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	16 (6.9%)								(n/a)	507.0	488.0			90.5	38.1																		0%	50%	$26,980
Peak to Peak Charter School	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	800 Merlin Drive	Lafayette	80026	Boulder County	Boulder Valley School District No. Re2	Yes	No	No	No	(303) 453-4600	1,447	82	17.6	17.6%	806 (55.7%)	11 (0.8%)	185 (12.8%)	337 (23.3%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	101 (7.0%)								(n/a)	95.7	68.8	93.4	75.7	89.5	69.2	63.2	82.9	80.5	70.8	64.5	67.0	70.6	59.2	63.2	73.7	62.5	71.0	60.0	64.9	62.3	65.2	65.4	98.6%	1.4%	$14,935
Prospect Ridge Academy	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	2555 Preble Creek Pkwy	Broomfield	80023	Broomfield County	Adams 12 Five Star Schools	Yes	No	No	No	(720) 399-0300	1,478	77	19.1	5.9%	949 (64.2%)	11 (0.7%)	196 (13.3%)	219 (14.8%)	6 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	96 (6.5%)								(n/a)	87.4	66.4	86.8	78.5	89.4	65.4	46.4	58.3	68.3	51.8	48.6	54.1	54.9	50.5	53.6	65.0	62.5	52.3	66.7	58.8	69.2	63.6	50.0	96.6%	3.4%	$12,225
Twin Peaks Classical Academy	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	340 South Sunset Street	Longmont	80501	Boulder County	St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J	Yes	No	No	No	(303) 772-7286	879	57	15.3	38.8%	532 (60.5%)	13 (1.5%)	255 (29.0%)	32 (3.6%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.5%)	42 (4.8%)								(n/a)	73.3	55.6	68.9	42.6	70.8	47.9	46.9	50.0	50.0	55.6	56.7	50.0	51.6	45.3	39.4	45.8	52.1	47.8	61.4	47.8	47.6	52.4	54.3	75.3%	9.7%	$13,841
Academy of Charter Schools	Public, Charter, Alternative	PK, KG-12	11800 Lowell Blvd	Westminster	80031	Adams County	State Charter School Institute	Yes	No	No	No	(303) 289-8088	1,887	100	18.8	33.9%	1,036 (54.9%)	18 (1.0%)	598 (31.7%)	121 (6.4%)	6 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	107 (5.7%)								(n/a)	64.1	36.9	69.5	32.4	64.2	26.6	42.5	46.5	56.3	37.8	51.6	57.3	48.4	35.8	30.6	35.8	22.8	40.5	46.9	34.8	22.4	53.0	54.5	80.3%	3%	$12,874
St. Vrain LaunchED Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	395 S. Pratt Parkway	Longmont	80501	Boulder County	St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J	No	No	Yes	No	(303) 702-8800	342	27	12.7	—	163 (47.7%)	2 (0.6%)	144 (42.1%)	6 (1.8%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	24 (7.0%)								(n/a)	454.0	21.1			66.7	439.0					16.7		40.7					719.0		23.0				60%	0%	$20,594
Stargate Charter School	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	14530 Washington Street	Thornton	80023	Adams County	Adams 12 Five Star Schools	Yes	No	No	No	(303) 450-3936	1,572	81	19.4	10.4%	748 (47.6%)	16 (1.0%)	168 (10.7%)	470 (29.9%)	6 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	156 (9.9%)								(n/a)	96.9	83.1	99.3	94.8	98.4	78.0	67.0	78.6	86.5	79.5	79.1	69.4	77.4	65.6	74.5	84.0	75.4	80.0	77.9	76.6	72.2	80.2	86.1	93.7%	6.3%	$12,768
Westgate Community School	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	12500 Washington St	Thornton	80241	Adams County	Adams 12 Five Star Schools	Yes	No	No	No	(303) 452-0967	540	27	20.0	38.3%	282 (52.2%)	4 (0.7%)	145 (26.9%)	60 (11.1%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (8.1%)								(n/a)			527.0	69.6	94.7	572.0	35.1	26.7	30.2	36.0	38.1	35.7	33.6	35.1	17.8	9.1	32.0	27.9	30.2	25.2	22.7	35.7	61.1	97.6%	0%	$13,406
Destinations Career Academy of Colorado	Public, Virtual, Alternative	4-12	8601 Turnpike Dr. Suite 100	Westminster	80031	Adams County	Julesburg School District No. Re1	No	No	Yes	No	(303) 128-6266	453	13	34.2	—	230 (50.8%)	22 (4.9%)	171 (37.7%)	7 (1.5%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.4%)								(n/a)	453.0	401.0			60.0	20.0				33.3	21.1	31.8	27.8				717.0	719.0	18.2	10.1		12.5				$10,675
Ascent Classical Academy of Northern Denver	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-9	1800 E Longs Peak St	Brighton	80602	Adams County	State Charter School Institute	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(720) 541-9809	305	17	18.0	—	200 (65.6%)	0 (0.0%)	84 (27.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (6.6%)								(n/a)							17.4	717.0	50.0	20.8	735.0	37.5	27.1	716.0	20.0	40.0	16.7	725.0	33.3	23.4	33.3	25.0				$11,811

Frequently Asked Questions about Boulder Universal

What district is Boulder Universal in?

Boulder Valley School District No. Re2

How many students attend Boulder Universal?

In the 2024-25 school year, 231 students attended Boulder Universal.

What is the racial makeup of Boulder Universal?

Students at Boulder Universal are 63% White, 20% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 4% Asian, 3% African American, 2% Not Specified.

Is Boulder Universal a good school?

Boulder Universal ranks 77^th of 340 Colorado alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Boulder Universal!

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Latest Colorado data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

2025–26 attendance dataOct 6, 2026

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

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026

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.