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Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning

Q: Is Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning a good school?

Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning ranks 253 rd of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades K-8

253^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 946 Colorado Elementary Schools

Better than 73% of Colorado elementary schools

Summary

Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning is a K-8 public school in Colorado Springs School District No. 11 serving 298 students. It is one of only a few schools in the area that spans elementary and middle school, which gives families the benefit of keeping their child in one school community from kindergarten through 8th grade. The school is a consistently high performer, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 73rd percentile statewide. Students significantly outpace district and state averages in English Language Arts, Math, and Science at every tested grade level.

What really sets this school apart is its middle school results. Eighth graders scored 79.3% proficient in math and 69% in ELA—roughly double the district average and well ahead of the state. This suggests the school successfully avoids the "middle school slump" that many students experience elsewhere. Among nearby schools, only Stratton Elementary (79th percentile) ranks comparably, while several others like Taylor, Jackson, Edison, and West fall well below the 35th percentile. The school also has a lower chronic absenteeism rate (24.9%) than the district (45.8%) or state (28.4%), though roughly one in four students still misses significant school time.

There are a few nuances worth knowing. The school's gifted and talented subgroup ranking from 2018-2019 was surprisingly low (20th percentile), which is an odd contrast to the school's overall mission and may be worth asking about. Female students have also seen a relative performance dip in recent years. Economically, the school has become more diverse, with the share of students receiving free/reduced lunch rising from 20.6% to 32.9% since 2022—and notably, the school has maintained strong performance through this shift. Only Steele Elementary has a lower poverty rate nearby, making the school's continued high achievement, and its K-8 success relative to Mountain Song Community School, all the more noteworthy.

298

Students ?

13.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,297

Per pupil spending ?

32.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2510 North Chestnut Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80907-5912

(719) 434-6566

District: Colorado Springs School District No. 11

Racial breakdown:

White:

72.5%

Hispanic:

18.5%

Two or more races:

7.7%

See top rated Colorado elementary schools

Compare Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 69th percentile in 2016 → 73rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Colorado average (57% vs 40% meeting standards)

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Colorado Springs School District No. 11

✓Above the Colorado median (73rd percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school57%

District avg33%

Colorado avg40%

Elementary school

253^rd of 946

Colorado public elementary schools ?

Top 27%▲ up 4 pts since 2016

From top 31% (2016) to top 27% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

54^th of 476

Colorado public middle schools ?

Top 11%▲ up 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	71.4	253 of 946	73.3%	★★★★☆
2025	78.8	194 of 950	79.6%	★★★★☆
2024	70.7	255 of 943	73.0%	★★★★☆
2023	75.4	204 of 933	78.1%	★★★★☆
2022	75.8	199 of 921	78.4%	★★★★☆
2021	70.2	223 of 710	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	80.1	167 of 965	82.7%	★★★★☆
2018	89.7	72 of 917	92.1%	★★★★★
2017	83.6	120 of 929	87.1%	★★★★☆
2016	65.8	280 of 914	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2015	75.4	197 of 938	79.0%	★★★★☆
2014	73.0	248 of 962	74.2%	★★★★☆
2013	86.7	94 of 954	90.1%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	53.8	301 of 695	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	84.9	71 of 642	88.9%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2019	39.9	88 of 110	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	58.8	273 of 697	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.5	225 of 649	65.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	75.3	106 of 551	80.8%	★★★★☆
2024	55.6	238 of 539	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.8	224 of 525	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.9	258 of 454	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	58.8	221 of 596	62.9%	★★★☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	86.1	54 of 476	88.7%	★★★★☆
2025	93.7	23 of 469	95.1%	★★★★★
2024	88.2	45 of 485	90.7%	★★★★★
2023	88.2	47 of 480	90.2%	★★★★★
2022	90.2	34 of 448	92.4%	★★★★★
2019	80.7	65 of 458	85.8%	★★★★☆
2018	87.4	33 of 418	92.1%	★★★★★
2017	93.2	17 of 424	96.0%	★★★★★
2016	81.7	49 of 400	87.8%	★★★★☆
2015	94.1	20 of 436	95.4%	★★★★★
2014	89.2	35 of 461	92.4%	★★★★★
2013	93.9	17 of 454	96.3%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	75.3	53 of 275	80.7%	★★★★☆
2024	66.9	72 of 273	73.6%	★★★★☆
2023	73.0	59 of 286	79.4%	★★★★☆

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)

Elementary school

White (2025)81st percentile~ school

Male (2026)61st percentile-12 vs school

Female (2026)57th percentile-17 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2019)20th percentile-63 vs school

Middle school

White (2025)81st percentile-14 vs school

By subject vs Colorado (2025-2026) ?

Math59%+21 vs state

Science57%+22 vs state

English Language Arts55%+10 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★2

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2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, May 7, 2014

This school is designed for gifted and talented students, who have needs for advanced curriculum and specific teaching strategies. AcademyACL is designed as an entire school where every staff member specializes in gifted education. The vision is to create an academic home for advanced and creative learning, cultivate personal and standards-based excellence and leadership ability, and serve as a resource center for the gifted community of the Pikes Peak Region. Many gifted students feel "different," and one of the very best things about this school is that students are with other kids who understand them. Many students come to this school from settings where they felt isolated and excluded, and at AcademyACL they are accepted and able to focus on learning instead of feeling like an outcast. This is a school that walks the talk of providing a safe atmosphere and practices compassion and kindness. Close Quote

Schools Near Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning

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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
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
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
Jackson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4340 Edwinstowe Avenue	Colorado Springs	80907	El Paso County	Colorado Springs School District No. 11	No	No	No	Yes	(719) 328-5800	312	21	14.5	77.6%	130 (41.7%)	22 (7.1%)	119 (38.1%)	6 (1.9%)	3 (1.0%)	2 (0.6%)	30 (9.6%)	26	669^th of 946 public elementary schools	29.3%		19.8	743^rd of 950 public elementary schools	21.8%	74	34.1	40.4	32.7				35.7	28.6	27.1	19.6				24.7	21.8		$22,221
Taylor Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	900 East Buena Ventura Street	Colorado Springs	80907	El Paso County	Colorado Springs School District No. 11	No	No	No	No	(719) 328-3500	152	14	10.9	75.7%	77 (50.7%)	10 (6.6%)	44 (28.9%)	1 (0.7%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (12.5%)	29.6	628^th of 946 public elementary schools	33.6%					(n/a)	14.3	31.8	45.0				30.2	714.0	716.0	42.1				20.6	21.1		$26,607
Stratton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2460 Paseo Road	Colorado Springs	80907	El Paso County	Colorado Springs School District No. 11	No	No	No	No	(719) 328-3400	249	22	11.5	49.8%	150 (60.2%)	14 (5.6%)	60 (24.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	23 (9.2%)	77.8	196^th of 946 public elementary schools	79.3%		69.5	272^nd of 950 public elementary schools	71.4%	76	65.8	64.3	66.0				65.4	71.1	52.4	54.0				58.5	40.0		$23,121
Edison Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3125 North Hancock Avenue	Colorado Springs	80907	El Paso County	Colorado Springs School District No. 11	No	No	No	Yes	(719) 328-2800	214	20	10.4	77.6%	69 (32.2%)	12 (5.6%)	119 (55.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.6%)	19.6	744^th of 946 public elementary schools	21.4%		16.4	789^th of 950 public elementary schools	16.9%	45	23.3	37.5	20.0				27.2	30.0	25.0	10.3				22.0	708.0		$25,319
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
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning

Is Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning a good school?

Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning ranks 253^rd of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning in?

Colorado Springs School District No. 11

How many students attend Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning?

In the 2024-25 school year, 298 students attended Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning.

What is the racial makeup of Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning?

Students at Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning are 72% White, 18% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 1% African American.

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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.