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West Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

725^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 946 Colorado Elementary Schools

Better than 23% of Colorado elementary schools

Summary

West Elementary School is a small PK-5 school in the Old Colorado City / Westside area of Colorado Springs, serving just 144 students as part of Colorado Springs School District No. 11. The school serves a highly disadvantaged population, with more than 83% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch — the highest rate among all nearby elementary schools. Despite its small size and an unusually favorable student-teacher ratio of 9.7 to 1, West currently holds a 1-star rating and ranks in the 23rd percentile of Colorado elementary schools.

Academically, West struggles most with reading. Just 13.6% of students met state expectations in English Language Arts on the CMAS assessment — far below the district average of 36.9% and less than half the rate at nearby Taylor Elementary School (30.2%) and Midland Elementary School (28.6%). Math tells a somewhat brighter story: 27.6% of West students were proficient, a solid improvement over the prior year and close to the district average of 32.1%. Schools just a mile or two away post dramatically higher results — Bristol Elementary School (63.6% ELA), Howbert Elementary School (58%), and Buena Vista Elementary School (50.9%) — though those schools also serve far fewer low-income families.

The most pressing issue at West is attendance. Nearly 48% of students were chronically absent in the most recent school year, up sharply from 34% the year before. That rate is second-worst in the area and more than 15 points higher than Midland Elementary, a comparable nearby school with similar demographics that outscores West in both reading and math. With nearly half of students missing significant school time, even the small class sizes and individualized attention West can offer are unlikely to overcome the lost learning. For parents considering West, the school's math gains and low student-teacher ratio are genuine positives, but chronic absenteeism and literacy are critical challenges worth understanding before enrolling.

144

Students ?

9.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$26,462

Per pupil spending ?

83.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

25 North 20th Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80904-3458

(719) 328-4900

District: Colorado Springs School District No. 11

Students who attend West Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	West Middle School
High:	Coronado High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

49.3%

Hispanic:

38.9%

Two or more races:

9.0%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 32nd percentile in 2024 → 23rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Colorado average (20% vs 41% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (23rd percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (38% vs 28% Colorado)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school20%

District avg34%

Colorado avg41%

725^th of 946

Colorado public elementary schools ?

Bottom 23%▲ up 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

24^th of 34Elementary Schools in the Colorado Springs School District No. 11

66^th of 114Colorado Springs School District No. 11 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	21.3	725 of 946	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	20.9	728 of 950	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.7	640 of 943	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	27.2	641 of 933	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	25.7	662 of 921	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	16.5	811 of 965	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.1	721 of 917	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	16.4	783 of 929	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	21.3	717 of 914	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	15.4	812 of 938	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	16.6	818 of 962	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	27.7	724 of 954	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	20.6	766 of 935	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	26.0	725 of 935	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	26.5	714 of 925	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Colorado (2025-2026) ?

Math28%-10 vs state

Science17%-19 vs state

English Language Arts14%-31 vs state

1.0

3 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★0

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★3

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, January 31, 2018

bad school bullying is allowed. A horrible principal non experienced teachers Close Quote

by a citizen
Thursday, April 19, 2012

Shame on you for suspending Nathan Pemberton for standing up and fighting back in self defense against his bully, while you refused to do anything to stop it!!!! Quit being so politically correct and use some common sense with this stuff! How would you feel if this were to take on an adult version and you were confronted? Would you lay down and take the punches or defend yourself, irregardless of the 'rules' and consequences? Close Quote

by a citizen
Thursday, April 19, 2012

Yea for the kid that stood up for himself!! Your school should follow his example. Close Quote

Schools Near West 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
West Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	25 North 20th Street	Colorado Springs	80904	El Paso County	Colorado Springs School District No. 11	No	No	No	Yes	(719) 328-4900	144	15	9.7	83.3%	71 (49.3%)	2 (1.4%)	56 (38.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.4%)	13 (9.0%)	21.3	725^th of 946 public elementary schools	23.4%		20.9	728^th of 950 public elementary schools	23.4%	3	716.0	706.0	22.2				13.6	27.8	22.7	33.3				27.6	16.7		$26,462
Midland Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2110 West Broadway Street	Colorado Springs	80904	El Paso County	Colorado Springs School District No. 11	No	No	No	Yes	(719) 328-4500	129	12	10.9	70.5%	58 (45.0%)	5 (3.9%)	49 (38.0%)	1 (0.8%)	1 (0.8%)	1 (0.8%)	14 (10.9%)								(n/a)		19.0					28.6		33.3					36.7			$27,773
Buena Vista Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	924 W Pikes Peak Ave	Colorado Springs	80905	El Paso County	Colorado Springs School District No. 11	No	No	No	No	(719) 328-4100	194	18	11.0	35.1%	130 (67.0%)	3 (1.5%)	47 (24.2%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (6.2%)								(n/a)	736.0	66.7					50.9	738.0	57.9					48.3			$27,436
Mountain Song Community School	Public, Charter	K-8	2904 West Kiowa Street	Colorado Springs	80904	El Paso County	State Charter School Institute	Yes	No	No	No	(719) 203-6364	324	25	13.1	47.2%	192 (59.3%)	4 (1.2%)	80 (24.7%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	44 (13.6%)	15.2	811^th of 946 public elementary schools	14.3%		19.3	750^th of 950 public elementary schools	21.1%	61	34.2	23.4	19.4	20.0	34.8	34.8	27.3	15.8	713.0	16.7	716.0	13.0	30.4	13.3	13.9	39.1	$16,058
Bristol Elementary School	Public	K-5	890 North Walnut Street	Colorado Springs	80905	El Paso County	Colorado Springs School District No. 11	No	No	No	No	(719) 328-4000	267	18	14.4	57.3%	138 (51.7%)	12 (4.5%)	81 (30.3%)	2 (0.7%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (12.0%)	71	256^th of 946 public elementary schools	72.9%		64.2	324^th of 950 public elementary schools	65.9%	68	59.5	68.9	61.7				63.6	50.0	54.5	44.7				49.6	38.3		$20,082
Howbert Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1023 North 31st Street	Colorado Springs	80904	El Paso County	Colorado Springs School District No. 11	No	No	No	No	(719) 328-4200	255	17	14.6	49.8%	188 (73.7%)	7 (2.7%)	40 (15.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (7.5%)	72.6	235^th of 946 public elementary schools	75.2%		49	448^th of 950 public elementary schools	52.8%	213	48.6	60.5	65.6				58.0	40.5	61.4	58.1				53.6	48.4		$21,437
Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning	Public, Charter	K-8	2510 North Chestnut Street	Colorado Springs	80907	El Paso County	Colorado Springs School District No. 11	Yes	No	No	No	(719) 434-6566	298	22	13.3	32.9%	216 (72.5%)	3 (1.0%)	55 (18.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (7.7%)	71.4	253^rd of 946 public elementary schools	73.3%		78.8	194^th of 950 public elementary schools	79.6%	59	43.2	54.3	51.9	61.5	55.6	69.0	55.2	56.8	58.8	48.1	50.0	57.7	79.3	58.7	53.8	60.7	$11,297
Steele Elementary School	Public	K-5	1720 North Weber Street	Colorado Springs	80907	El Paso County	Colorado Springs School District No. 11	No	No	No	No	(719) 328-4700	273	18	14.9	25.6%	210 (76.9%)	9 (3.3%)	35 (12.8%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.9%)	62.8	328^th of 946 public elementary schools	65.3%		80.3	171^st of 950 public elementary schools	82.0%	157	20.4	64.0	59.1				47.6	28.6	68.6	54.5				50.7	56.8		$20,304
Columbia Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	835 East St Vrain Street	Colorado Springs	80903	El Paso County	Colorado Springs School District No. 11	No	No	No	Yes	(719) 328-2700	265	20	13.3	66.8%	120 (45.3%)	18 (6.8%)	93 (35.1%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.8%)	1 (0.4%)	30 (11.3%)	30.7	613^th of 946 public elementary schools	35.2%		30.2	612^th of 950 public elementary schools	35.6%	1	37.0	31.1	33.3				33.9	35.4	728.0	721.0				27.0	19.0		$22,732
Gold Camp Elementary School	Public	K-6	1805 Preserve Drive	Colorado Springs	80906	El Paso County	Cheyenne Mountain School District No. 12	No	No	No	No	(719) 327-2820	435	31	14.0	16.3%	341 (78.4%)	3 (0.7%)	47 (10.8%)	9 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	34 (7.8%)	88.6	84^th of 946 public elementary schools	91.1%		86.6	112^th of 950 public elementary schools	88.2%	28	77.0	70.7	66.7	75.4			72.3	83.6	64.9	50.7	67.6			66.2	56.1		$13,214

Frequently Asked Questions about West Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of West Elementary School?

Students at West Elementary School are 49% White, 39% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 1% African American, 1% Pacific Islander.

What district is West Elementary School in?

Colorado Springs School District No. 11

What schools do graduates of West Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : West Middle School
High : Coronado High School

How many students attend West Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 144 students attended West Elementary School.

Is West Elementary School a good school?

West Elementary School ranks in the bottom 23.4% of Colorado elementary schools.

Rate West Elementary School!

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Latest Colorado data All new data »

2025–26 attendance dataNewOct 6, 2026

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

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.