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South Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

832^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 943 Colorado Elementary Schools

Better than 12% of Colorado elementary schools

Summary

South Elementary School is a small PK–5 school in Brighton, CO, serving 337 students in School District 27J. It is one of the most economically challenged schools in the area: 85.5% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch—the highest rate among nearby schools—and 35.5% of students are chronically absent, well above the 29.7% district rate and the 28.4% state rate. On a more encouraging note, the school's student-teacher ratio is a favorable 14.6, among the most favorable in the comparison group, with only Henderson Elementary School offering a similar ratio.

The school trails district and state averages in every tested subject. Proficiency rates are 25.4% in English Language Arts, 15.0% in math, and 10.7% in 5th-grade science, compared to district averages of 34.2%, 26.8%, and 23.6%. The most striking concern is 4th-grade math, where just 7.3% of students are proficient versus 39.0% statewide—a gap of more than 30 points. That same 4th-grade cohort scores 37.0% in ELA, nearly matching the district average, which points to a math-specific challenge rather than a general academic issue. There is also a notable gender gap: female students rank in the 18th percentile statewide, while male students rank in the 7th percentile.

The school's math proficiency is the lowest among all nearby schools. Even other high-poverty neighbors like Northeast Elementary School and Southeast Elementary School post higher math scores (21.5% and 19.8%, respectively), while lower-poverty schools such as Brantner Elementary School, Elaine S. Padilla Elementary School, and Foundations Academy range from 36% to 45%. Still, there is reason for cautious optimism: ELA proficiency has climbed steadily from 19.3% in 2022–2023 to 25.4% in 2025–2026, and science has improved from 4.2% to 10.7% over the same period. Math, however, remains stubbornly low. Given the favorable student-teacher ratio and the high rate of chronic absenteeism, the most effective levers for improvement are likely getting students to school consistently and providing targeted math support—especially for male students and the 4th-grade cohort.

337

Students ?

14.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,200

Per pupil spending ?

85.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

305 South 5th Avenue
Brighton, CO 80601-2111

(303) 655-2600

District: School District 27J

Students who attend South Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:

Vikan Middle School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

86.9%

White:

9.8%

Two or more races:

1.2%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 11th percentile in 2015 → 12th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Colorado average (19% vs 41% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (12th percentile)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school19%

District avg30%

Colorado avg41%

832^nd of 943

Colorado public elementary schools ?

Bottom 12%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From bottom 18% (2016) to bottom 12% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

18^th of 18Elementary Schools in the School District 27J

81^st of 115School District 27J 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	13.5	832 of 943	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	12.6	848 of 950	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	9.7	888 of 933	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	11.1	867 of 921	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	7.9	707 of 710	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	20.2	773 of 965	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.7	728 of 917	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	21.1	727 of 929	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	18.1	750 of 914	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	13.9	835 of 938	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	37.4	635 of 962	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	27.7	725 of 954	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	53.3	469 of 935	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2011	49.5	518 of 935	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	46.2	549 of 925	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2009	48.5	491 of 872	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	54.5	429 of 849	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2007	44.8	518 of 852	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2006	53.8	418 of 829	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2005	51.4	448 of 823	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2004	42.3	509 of 808	37.0%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	18.0	568 of 692	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.7	579 of 642	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	23.5	539 of 690	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2019	28.4	206 of 270	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	35.0	112 of 172	34.9%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2019	35.3	231 of 332	30.4%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	10.4	644 of 694	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	25.3	560 of 764	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	14.2	616 of 693	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆

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 (2019)30th percentile+11 vs school

Hispanic (2019)24th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2026)18th percentile+6 vs school

Male (2026)7th percentile-5 vs school

By subject vs Colorado (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts25%-19 vs state

Math15%-22 vs state

Science11%-25 vs state

★

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Schools Near South 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
South Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	305 South 5th Avenue	Brighton	80601	Adams County	School District 27J	No	No	No	Yes	(303) 655-2600	337	23	14.6	85.5%	33 (9.8%)	3 (0.9%)	293 (86.9%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	4 (1.2%)	13.5	832^nd of 943 public elementary schools	11.8%		12.6	848^th of 950 public elementary schools	10.7%	16	15.8	37.0	27.3				25.4	15.8	7.3	21.4				15.0	10.7		$18,200
Southeast Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1595 Southern Street	Brighton	80601	Adams County	School District 27J	No	No	No	Yes	(303) 866-2650	527	32	16.4	73.8%	105 (19.9%)	5 (0.9%)	399 (75.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.8%)	16.7	792^nd of 943 public elementary schools	16.0%		11.9	857^th of 950 public elementary schools	9.8%	65	29.9	20.7	32.0				27.4	24.7	18.5	16.2				19.8	13.9		$16,193
Northeast Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1605 Longspeak	Brighton	80601	Adams County	School District 27J	No	No	No	Yes	(303) 655-2550	470	31	15.3	78.7%	56 (11.9%)	5 (1.1%)	396 (84.3%)	5 (1.1%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.3%)	14.5	815^th of 943 public elementary schools	13.6%		11.8	859^th of 950 public elementary schools	9.6%	44	10.5	20.3	31.4				20.5	15.6	14.9	35.3				21.5	8.8		$17,078
Mary E Pennock Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3707 Estrella Street	Brighton	80601	Adams County	School District 27J	No	No	No	No	(720) 685-7500	592	38	15.7	59.8%	210 (35.5%)	7 (1.2%)	348 (58.8%)	12 (2.0%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	11 (1.9%)	33.1	587^th of 943 public elementary schools	37.8%		37.6	550^th of 950 public elementary schools	42.1%	37	24.2	52.6	34.9				36.3	33.0	37.2	31.2				33.5	22.9		$15,377
Foundations Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	340 South 45th Avenue	Brighton	80601	Adams County	School District 27J	Yes	No	No	No	(303) 659-9519	763	16	47.9	36.2%	386 (50.6%)	4 (0.5%)	342 (44.8%)	8 (1.0%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (2.8%)	45	469^th of 943 public elementary schools	50.3%		42.2	515^th of 950 public elementary schools	45.8%	46	39.8	42.3	53.8	32.1	52.5	28.2	41.5	46.9	20.8	32.5	38.5	41.8	39.0	36.7	36.3	23.7	$13,298
Bromley East Charter School	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	356 Longspur Drive	Brighton	80601	Adams County	School District 27J	Yes	No	No	No	(720) 685-3297	1,214	42	28.6	39.5%	568 (46.8%)	17 (1.4%)	566 (46.6%)	16 (1.3%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	44 (3.6%)	21.9	714^th of 943 public elementary schools	24.3%		22.1	708^th of 950 public elementary schools	25.5%	6	25.6	32.8	40.5	18.8	27.0	20.0	27.6	24.8	21.0	25.6	14.1	19.2	16.3	20.3	25.0	17.6	$12,336
Elaine S. Padilla Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5505 Longs Peak Street	Brighton	80601	Adams County	School District 27J	No	No	No	No	(303) 655-5100	672	35	19.1	48.2%	213 (31.7%)	15 (2.2%)	415 (61.8%)	7 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	19 (2.8%)	39.3	519^th of 943 public elementary schools	45.0%		39.4	530^th of 950 public elementary schools	44.2%	11	40.2	45.4	35.4				40.6	39.1	40.2	29.3				36.5	22.0		$13,587
Meadow Ridge Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	1501 Fletcher Avenue	Lochbuie	80603	Weld County	Weld County School District Re-3j	No	No	No	Yes	(303) 536-2400	440	28	15.5	56.1%	126 (28.6%)	8 (1.8%)	288 (65.5%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.7%)								(n/a)																	$13,831
Henderson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	12301 East 124th Avenue	Henderson	80640	Adams County	School District 27J	No	No	No	No	(303) 655-2700	357	24	14.8	61.1%	97 (27.2%)	5 (1.4%)	230 (64.4%)	14 (3.9%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.5%)	17.9	771^st of 943 public elementary schools	18.2%		24.1	677^th of 950 public elementary schools	28.7%	94	23.4	22.9	29.6				25.5	31.9	22.9	22.2				25.5	9.8		$17,213
Brantner Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7800 E. 133rd Avenue	Thornton	80602	Adams County	School District 27J	No	No	No	No	(720) 685-5050	574	35	16.5	40.9%	271 (47.2%)	10 (1.7%)	216 (37.6%)	53 (9.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (3.8%)	56.9	388^th of 943 public elementary schools	58.9%		58.4	378^th of 950 public elementary schools	60.2%	10	43.8	61.6	60.4				55.3	37.1	54.8	44.0				44.6	25.2		$14,331

Frequently Asked Questions about South Elementary School

Is South Elementary School a good school?

South Elementary School ranks in the bottom 11.8% of Colorado elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of South Elementary School attend?

Students who attend South Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Vikan Middle School

What district is South Elementary School in?

School District 27J

How many students attend South Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 337 students attended South Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of South Elementary School?

Students at South Elementary School are 87% Hispanic, 10% White, 1% Two or more races.

Rate South 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.