Burlington Elementary School

Burlington Elementary School serves 320 students in pre-kindergarten through 4th grade in Burlington, Colorado, a small community on the state's eastern plains. The school has shown meaningful improvement over the past decade, climbing from the 4th percentile statewide in 2015–16 to the 38th percentile in 2025–26 with a 2-star rating. While the school still trails Colorado averages in both English Language Arts and math, it consistently outperforms its own district, Burlington Public School District No. Re-6j, which ranks in the bottom quintile of districts statewide.

Parents will find several bright spots worth noting. Math proficiency has surged from 19.3% in 2023–24 to 33.3% in 2025–26, putting the school within 4 percentage points of the state average. English Language Arts proficiency sits at 32.4%, well above the district's 25.9% but below the state's 44.7%. Perhaps most impressive is the school's chronic absenteeism rate of just 17.2% — dramatically better than both the district (30.5%) and the state (28.4%) — even though 57.2% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The student-teacher ratio also improved in the last year, falling to 16.0.

One concern stands out: a sharp 4th-grade math drop. While 3rd graders reached 50% math proficiency — above the state average — 4th graders fell to just 17.9%, a 32-point decline that warrants a closer look at the upper-elementary math curriculum. For context, nearby Stratton Elementary School, about 18 miles away, serves a smaller and somewhat less economically disadvantaged student body and posted stronger results in both subjects (ELA 38.8%, math 40.8%). Still, Burlington Elementary's upward trajectory, strong attendance culture, and consistent outperformance of its district suggest a school that is genuinely gaining momentum.