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Dakota Valley Elementary School

Q: Is Dakota Valley Elementary School a good school?

Dakota Valley Elementary School ranks 444 th of 950 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

444^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 950 Colorado Elementary Schools

Better than 53% of Colorado elementary schools

Summary

Dakota Valley Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 584 students in grades PK-5 in the Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in Aurora, Colorado. The school has had a mixed performance over the past few years, with its statewide ranking ranging from 185 out of 710 Colorado elementary schools in 2020-2021 to 477 out of 943 in 2023-2024.

Dakota Valley's performance on CMAS (Colorado Measures of Academic Success) tests is generally below the district and state averages, particularly in math, with only 35.8% of students proficient or better in 2024-2025, compared to 42.8% for the Cherry Creek School District and 35.9% for Colorado. However, the school's performance in CMAS English Language Arts is closer to the district and state averages. The school also faces a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, from 16.7% in 2021-2022 to 27.7% in 2023-2024, which is higher than the district and state averages.

Compared to nearby schools in the Cherry Creek School District, such as Arrowhead Elementary, Summit Elementary, and Peakview Elementary, Dakota Valley's performance is generally lower. However, the school outperforms the nearby Aurora Frontier K-8 school, which is in the Aurora Joint District No. 28 and has significantly lower test scores and higher chronic absenteeism.

571

Students ?

14.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,601

Per pupil spending ?

39.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3950 South Kirk Way
Aurora, CO 80013-6026

(720) 886-3000

District: Cherry Creek School District No. 5

Students who attend Dakota Valley Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Sky Vista Middle School
High:	Cherokee Trail High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

44.8%

Hispanic:

22.6%

African American:

15.2%

See top rated Colorado elementary schools

Compare Dakota Valley Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 69th percentile in 2015 → 53rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the Colorado median (53rd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 16 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school41%

District avg45%

Colorado avg40%

444^th of 950

Colorado public elementary schools ?

Top 47%▼ down 16 pts since 2015

From top 31% (2015) to top 47% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

28^th of 46Elementary Schools in the Cherry Creek School District No. 5

30^th of 115Cherry Creek School District No. 5 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
2025	49.7	444 of 950	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.2	477 of 943	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	55.2	387 of 933	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.4	419 of 921	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	75.8	185 of 710	73.9%	★★★★☆
2019	43.6	511 of 965	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	54.9	371 of 917	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	61.8	310 of 929	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	69.8	249 of 914	72.8%	★★★★☆
2015	64.3	293 of 938	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	60.3	393 of 962	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	63.4	364 of 954	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	63.8	356 of 935	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2011	62.3	383 of 935	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	61.5	391 of 925	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2009	61.1	368 of 872	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2008	61.1	357 of 849	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	64.4	328 of 852	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	67.7	288 of 829	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2005	82.6	106 of 823	87.1%	★★★★☆
2004	88.1	58 of 808	92.8%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	40.6	392 of 694	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.8	447 of 684	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.1	403 of 642	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.0	320 of 595	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.7	403 of 758	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.7	308 of 690	55.4%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	44.4	122 of 247	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	42.6	130 of 242	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.0	150 of 270	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	74.6	29 of 172	83.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	61.3	100 of 337	70.3%	★★★★☆
2024	43.6	204 of 365	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	32.9	243 of 332	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	58.5	101 of 308	67.2%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	42.5	379 of 700	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.0	384 of 683	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	56.9	263 of 649	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	39.0	349 of 594	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.1	474 of 764	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.6	364 of 693	47.5%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	32.2	397 of 551	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	35.4	367 of 539	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.6	263 of 525	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	29.5	355 of 454	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	59.1	131 of 288	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	35.3	399 of 596	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.5	203 of 337	39.8%	★★☆☆☆

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 (2025)70th percentile+17 vs school

Hispanic (2025)51st percentile-3 vs school

Male (2025)46th percentile-7 vs school

Female (2025)44th percentile-10 vs school

White (2025)28th percentile-25 vs school

By subject vs Colorado (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts48%+3 vs state

Science40%~ state avg

Math36%~ state avg

3.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, November 10, 2014

The shool principal brushes bulying under the rug...tries to make it look like nothing of the sort would happen in her school. Teachers do little to nothing to help evaluate or help students who struggle with learning disablities despite delining grades and the student's parents begging for help. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, February 2, 2012

Great School - very nice staff. Very Happy with the performance of my kid. Close Quote

Schools Near Dakota Valley Elementary School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CMAS English Language Arts (2025)							CMAS Math (2025)							CMAS Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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
Dakota Valley Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3950 South Kirk Way	Aurora	80013	Arapahoe County	Cherry Creek School District No. 5	No	No	No	No	(720) 886-3000	571	39	14.6	39.4%	256 (44.8%)	87 (15.2%)	129 (22.6%)	42 (7.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (9.8%)	49.7	444^th of 950 public elementary schools	53.3%		46.2	477^th of 943 public elementary schools	49.4%	33	39.3	52.6	51.1				47.5	44.4	36.8	26.4				35.8	40.2		$17,601
Sunrise Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4050 South Genoa Way	Aurora	80013	Arapahoe County	Cherry Creek School District No. 5	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 886-2900	497	34	14.8	61.2%	138 (27.8%)	88 (17.7%)	180 (36.2%)	22 (4.4%)	2 (0.4%)	3 (0.6%)	64 (12.9%)	13.1	837^th of 950 public elementary schools	11.9%		11.5	858^th of 943 public elementary schools	9.0%	21	11.0	20.6	23.7				17.9	14.9	16.9	21.7				17.6	21.7		$18,073
Aurora Frontier K-8	Public	PK, KG-8	3200 S Jericho Way	Aurora	80013	Arapahoe County	Aurora Joint District No. 28	No	No	No	No	(303) 693-1995	761	46	16.6	61.0%	179 (23.5%)	154 (20.2%)	243 (31.9%)	118 (15.5%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	64 (8.4%)	62.3	342^nd of 950 public elementary schools	64.0%		56.9	386^th of 943 public elementary schools	59.1%	44	41.0	49.3	50.6	59.4	75.3	80.0	58.8	47.1	53.4	39.0	43.6	54.7	53.0	48.1	43.9	57.6	$17,418
Aspen Crossing Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4655 S Himalaya Street	Centennial	80015	Arapahoe County	Cherry Creek School District No. 5	No	No	No	No	(720) 886-3700	569	35	16.2	35.1%	194 (34.1%)	87 (15.3%)	110 (19.3%)	86 (15.1%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	89 (15.6%)	56.3	397^th of 950 public elementary schools	58.2%		43.9	491^st of 943 public elementary schools	47.9%	94	38.0	34.8	52.7				42.1	52.4	30.3	57.4				46.8	49.5		$16,005
Mountain Vista Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	22200 East Radcliff Parkway	Centennial	80015	Arapahoe County	Cherry Creek School District No. 5	No	No	No	No	(720) 886-2700	568	38	14.7	28.7%	253 (44.5%)	75 (13.2%)	103 (18.1%)	74 (13.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	61 (10.7%)	58.1	379^th of 950 public elementary schools	60.1%		48.5	461^st of 943 public elementary schools	51.1%	82	57.1	44.4	50.6				50.2	57.1	41.1	33.7				43.0	41.6		$17,685
Arrowhead Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	19100 East Bates Avenue	Aurora	80013	Arapahoe County	Cherry Creek School District No. 5	No	No	No	No	(720) 886-2800	499	35	14.4	54.1%	149 (29.9%)	81 (16.2%)	175 (35.1%)	28 (5.6%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	63 (12.6%)	16.2	791^st of 950 public elementary schools	16.7%		20.4	738^th of 943 public elementary schools	21.7%	53	23.3	18.2	26.9				22.8	29.3	17.4	17.6				21.7	15.2		$17,751
Summit Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	18201 East Quincy Ave	Aurora	80015	Arapahoe County	Cherry Creek School District No. 5	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 886-6400	337	25	13.4	49.6%	112 (33.2%)	54 (16.0%)	117 (34.7%)	19 (5.6%)	7 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (8.3%)	24.1	678^th of 950 public elementary schools	28.6%		30.4	608^th of 943 public elementary schools	35.5%	70	30.6	37.2	24.5				30.5	40.0	16.3	19.1				25.7	14.6		$20,870
Peakview Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	19451 East Progress Circle	Centennial	80015	Arapahoe County	Cherry Creek School District No. 5	No	No	No	No	(720) 886-3100	447	31	14.4	36.2%	240 (53.7%)	33 (7.4%)	98 (21.9%)	20 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.3%)	50 (11.2%)	53.9	415^th of 950 public elementary schools	56.3%		47.7	468^th of 943 public elementary schools	50.4%	53	31.1	37.0	60.6				43.0	30.6	35.6	59.1				41.8	54.5		$16,714
Timberline Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5500 South Killarney Street	Centennial	80015	Arapahoe County	Cherry Creek School District No. 5	No	No	No	No	(720) 886-3200	478	32	14.9	33.1%	241 (50.4%)	51 (10.7%)	90 (18.8%)	27 (5.6%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	66 (13.8%)	50.2	440^th of 950 public elementary schools	53.7%		35.5	558^th of 943 public elementary schools	40.8%	118	27.9	30.2	52.6				37.7	40.6	37.5	51.3				43.6	47.4		$17,486
Cimarron Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	17373 East Lehigh Pl	Aurora	80013	Arapahoe County	Cherry Creek School District No. 5	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 886-8100	393	33	11.9	65.4%	105 (26.7%)	70 (17.8%)	163 (41.5%)	6 (1.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (12.0%)	19.7	744^th of 950 public elementary schools	21.7%		12.2	850^th of 943 public elementary schools	9.9%	106	20.0	26.7	29.8				25.7	20.0	23.0	26.3				23.2	21.4		$17,977

Frequently Asked Questions about Dakota Valley Elementary School

What district is Dakota Valley Elementary School in?

Cherry Creek School District No. 5

How many students attend Dakota Valley Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 571 students attended Dakota Valley Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Dakota Valley Elementary School?

Students at Dakota Valley Elementary School are 45% White, 23% Hispanic, 15% African American, 10% Two or more races, 7% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Dakota Valley Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Dakota Valley Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Sky Vista Middle School
High : Cherokee Trail High School

Is Dakota Valley Elementary School a good school?

Dakota Valley Elementary School ranks 444^th of 950 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Dakota Valley Elementary School!

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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.