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John F Kennedy High School

Public Grades 9-12

265^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 338 Colorado High Schools

Better than 22% of Colorado high schools

Summary

John F Kennedy High School is a comprehensive public high school in southwest Denver serving 681 students in grades 9–12 as part of School District No. 1. The school serves a high-poverty population, with about 79% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, and it maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.8. One of the school's most significant challenges is chronic absenteeism, which stood at 61.0% in 2024–2025 — nearly double the state rate of 28.4%.

Academically, JFK shows a mixed but improving picture. In 2025–2026, 27.3% of 11th graders were proficient in science on the CMAS assessment, surpassing the district rate of 18.2% and the state rate of 24.8%, and well above nearby schools like DSST: College View High School (10.3%) and Abraham Lincoln High School (5.0%). Reading and writing scores are closer to district averages, with 44% of 11th graders proficient on SAT Reading/Writing compared to 52% districtwide and 60% statewide. Math remains the school's most persistent weakness: only 17% of 11th graders were proficient in SAT Math, compared to 33% in the district and 32% across Colorado, and 9th grade PSAT math proficiency has actually declined in recent years.

JFK's graduation rate is a genuine strength — 84.9% in 2024–2025, above the district rate of 81.9% and nearly matching the state's 85.6%. This is particularly notable compared to Abraham Lincoln High School (70.0%), a nearby school in the same district with similar demographics. The school's overall ranking has also climbed from the 9th percentile statewide in 2024–2025 to the 22nd percentile in 2025–2026, with particularly strong gains among low-income students, who improved from the 9th to the 43rd percentile. However, chronic absenteeism and math proficiency remain major barriers, and while JFK trails Bear Creek High School and DSST: College View on several metrics, its recent trajectory suggests genuine, ongoing improvement.

681

Students ?

13.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,343

Per pupil spending ?

78.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2855 South Lamar Street
Denver, CO 80227-3809

(720) 423-4300

District: School District No. 1

Feeder schools for John F Kennedy High School:

Elementary:	Doull Elementary School
	Force Elementary School
	Grant Ranch Ece-8 School
	Gust Elementary School
	More...
	Kaiser Elementary School
	Sabin World School
	Traylor Academy
Middle:	Bear Valley International School
	Rocky Mountain Prep Federal

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

76.1%

White:

10.7%

Asian:

7.2%

See top rated Colorado high schools

Compare John F Kennedy High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 5th percentile in 2016 → 22nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 17 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Colorado average (31% vs 48% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (22nd percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (61% vs 28% Colorado)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school31%

District avg43%

Colorado avg48%

265^th of 338

Colorado public high schools ?

Bottom 22%▲ up 16 pts since 2016

From bottom 5% (2016) to bottom 22% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

19^th of 31High Schools in the School District No. 1

71^st of 115School District No. 1 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	22.0	265 of 338	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	11.1	300 of 328	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.6	311 of 349	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.2	306 of 349	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	1.8	216 of 221	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	2.3	206 of 210	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	19.5	318 of 411	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.5	305 of 388	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	16.4	212 of 256	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	10.3	241 of 255	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	24.1	222 of 292	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	26.3	281 of 369	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	22.9	265 of 349	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	19.3	267 of 334	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	26.3	255 of 337	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	26.7	247 of 327	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	26.6	241 of 310	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	19.0	249 of 301	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	11.6	264 of 298	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	13.1	255 of 286	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	9.1	254 of 280	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	12.8	251 of 279	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	12.5	37 of 43	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	9.6	37 of 43	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2024	44.7	18 of 36	50.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	17.9	203 of 245	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	7.8	235 of 247	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	9.7	230 of 257	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	10.9	230 of 254	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	8.9	230 of 257	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	10.6	215 of 239	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2021	0.2	116 of 118	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	28.2	144 of 197	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	11.9	174 of 187	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.4	179 of 199	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.6	167 of 198	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	12.5	187 of 205	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	16.6	158 of 181	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	41.6	118 of 208	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	16.4	177 of 194	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	17.9	180 of 211	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.4	165 of 200	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.6	171 of 203	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	30.1	138 of 188	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	31.6	161 of 243	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	13.1	217 of 246	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	11.9	226 of 256	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	10.7	226 of 252	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	8.9	229 of 253	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	10.6	211 of 240	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2024	8.9	211 of 229	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	4.4	226 of 234	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	6.5	217 of 228	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	7.3	209 of 225	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2024)50th percentile+39 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)43rd percentile+22 vs school

Male (2026)34th percentile+12 vs school

Hispanic (2026)27th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2026)17th percentile-4 vs school

Asian (2026)14th percentile-8 vs school

White (2024)8th percentile-3 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2021)2nd percentile~ school

By subject vs Colorado (2025-2026) ?

Reading and Writing40%-26 vs state

Science27%~ state avg

Mathematics11%-29 vs state

1.0

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Friday, April 30, 2010

John F Kennedy has made some minor improvements over the last few years. It has implemented several higher education programs such as IB and Avid. Sadly the morals and ethics of students within the school have declined over the years. The name John F Kennedy stands for something completely different than what is portrayed by the student body at this school. What happened to honesty, integrity, pride, morals and ethics? This is something that the staff really BOASTS about during student orientations right? Maybe that is something just to get the enrollment numbers up to get that good old funding from Uncle Sam. As a citizen in the area I have found it disheartening to see how much toxicity has been bred in the school. Students tagging on the walls inside and outside the school, homes in the neighborhood being vandalized, theft of high priced items from student lockers, theft of money from athletic fundraisers....need you hear more? I don't know what is more frustrating, the fact that the school has this "wonderful" security system with security cameras, school resource officers, and deans that administer discipline. Wow with all that money going out for this where is the security really at? Could it be in the steady paycheck that comes home at the end of the month? To make a long story short...your child can succeed at Kennedy with a lot of parental guidance and involvement, just make sure to send them to school looking like they are from a very low income family so those whom the staff deem as "less fortunate" will find someone else to steal from and prey on. Less fortunate individuals would be those whose parents did not take the time to teach them morals, ethics,values, honor, integrity, and self worth.
Sincerely,
Disappointed tax payer who sees where our future is headed. Close Quote

Schools Near John F Kennedy High 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)				PSAT10 Reading and Writing (2026)	PSAT10 Mathematics (2026)	PSAT9 Reading and Writing (2026)	PSAT9 Mathematics (2026)	SAT Reading and Writing (2026)	SAT Mathematics (2026)	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	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	PSAT10 Reading and Writing 10th Grade	PSAT10 Mathematics 10th Grade	PSAT9 Reading and Writing 9th Grade	PSAT9 Mathematics 9th Grade	SAT Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 7th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 8th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts All Grades	CMAS Math 7th Grade	CMAS Math 8th Grade	CMAS Math All Grades	CMAS Science 8th Grade	CMAS Science 11th Grade	Total
John F Kennedy High School	Public	9-12	2855 South Lamar Street	Denver	80227	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 423-4300	681	49	13.8	78.9%	73 (10.7%)	23 (3.4%)	518 (76.1%)	49 (7.2%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.2%)	22	265^th of 338 public high schools	21.6%		11.1	300^th of 328 public high schools	8.5%	35	59.0	21.0	40.0	11.0	44.0	17.0								27.3	$21,343
Addenbrooke Classical Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	3605 S Teller Street	Lakewood	80235	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	Yes	No	No	No	(303) 989-1336	191	16	12.2	25.7%	108 (56.5%)	1 (0.5%)	65 (34.0%)	6 (3.1%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.7%)	46.6	166^th of 338 public high schools	50.9%		38.9	204^th of 328 public high schools	37.8%	38	63.0	47.0	77.0	38.0	56.0	11.0								17.1	$10,134
Summit Academy	Public	6-12	5590 W Evans Ave.	Denver	80227	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 424-2400	236	19	12.1	91.9%	6 (2.5%)	4 (1.7%)	224 (94.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12.1	307^th of 338 public high schools	9.2%		9.7	306^th of 328 public high schools	6.7%	1			31.0	23.0					10.9	19.0		14.1	11.1	11.8	$23,091
Rocky Mountain Youth Services Center	Public	5-12	7862 West Mansfield Parkway	Denver	80235	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	No	(303) 987-4575	13	5	2.8		2 (15.4%)	3 (23.1%)	5 (38.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (23.1%)								(n/a)															$00
Mount View Youth Services Center	Public	5-12	7862 West Mansfield Parkway	Denver	80235	Jefferson County	Division of Youth Services	No	No	No	No	(303) 987-4525																			(n/a)															$00
Betty K Marler Youth Services Center	Public	6-12	7862 West Mansfield Parkway	Denver	80235	Jefferson County	Division of Youth Services	No	No	No	No	(720) 220-1246																			(n/a)															$00
DSST: College View High School	Public, Charter	9-12	3111 West Dartmouth Avenue	Denver	80236	Denver County	School District No. 1	Yes	No	No	Yes	(303) 524-6320	533	47	11.2	85.7%	13 (2.4%)	17 (3.2%)	466 (87.4%)	29 (5.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.8%)	32.3	226^th of 338 public high schools	33.1%		39.8	197^th of 328 public high schools	39.9%	29	50.0	33.0	52.0	40.0	46.0	30.0								10.3	$12,164
Bear Creek High School	Public	9-12	9800 West Dartmouth Place	Lakewood	80227	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	No	(303) 982-8855	1,344	70	19.1	48.7%	533 (39.7%)	26 (1.9%)	639 (47.5%)	89 (6.6%)	5 (0.4%)	6 (0.4%)	45 (3.3%)	47	165^th of 338 public high schools	51.2%		50.8	149^th of 328 public high schools	54.6%	16	66.0	39.0	60.0	33.0	61.0	30.0								30.1	$16,728
Alameda International Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	1255 South Wadsworth Blvd	Lakewood	80232	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	Yes	(303) 982-8160	1,002	67	14.9	65.4%	127 (12.7%)	20 (2.0%)	777 (77.5%)	49 (4.9%)	7 (0.7%)	3 (0.3%)	19 (1.9%)	6.8	322^nd of 338 public high schools	4.7%		6.7	313^th of 328 public high schools	4.6%	9	39.0	12.0	32.0	4.0	30.0	6.0	10.5	8.7	9.6	2.4	3.5	2.9	3.5	6.2	$18,017
Respect Academy	Public	9-12	2285 South Federal Blvd	Denver	80219	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 423-5228	99	7	13.4	79.8%	2 (2.0%)	1 (1.0%)	92 (92.9%)	1 (1.0%)	3 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)															$24,071

Frequently Asked Questions about John F Kennedy High School

What district is John F Kennedy High School in?

School District No. 1

Is John F Kennedy High School a good school?

John F Kennedy High School ranks in the bottom 21.6% of Colorado high schools.

What schools feed into John F Kennedy High School?

John F Kennedy High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Doull Elementary School
Elementary : Force Elementary School
Elementary : Grant Ranch Ece-8 School
Elementary : Gust Elementary School
Elementary : Kaiser Elementary School
Elementary : Sabin World School
Elementary : Traylor Academy
Middle : Bear Valley International School
Middle : Rocky Mountain Prep Federal

How many students attend John F Kennedy High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 681 students attended John F Kennedy High School.

What is the racial makeup of John F Kennedy High School?

Students at John F Kennedy High School are 76% Hispanic, 11% White, 7% Asian, 3% African American, 2% Two or more races.

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Latest Colorado data All new data »

2025–26 CMAS, PSAT10, PSAT9 & SAT test scoresNewAug 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.