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Whittier Ece-8 School

Public Grades PK, KG-8

889^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 946 Colorado Elementary Schools

Better than 6% of Colorado elementary schools

Summary

Whittier Ece-8 School is a small public PK-8 school in Denver's Whittier neighborhood serving 242 students as part of School District No. 1. The school has experienced a significant decline over the past decade, dropping from the 30th percentile statewide in 2015-2016 to the 6th percentile in 2025-2026, when it received zero stars and ranked 886th out of 943 Colorado elementary schools. Academic proficiency rates are well below district and state averages, with just 21.3% of students proficient in English Language Arts and 10.2% in Math, compared to 42.5% and 35.0% for the district.

Whittier serves a high-poverty population, with 88.4% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Its most urgent challenge may be chronic absenteeism, which stands at 50.6%—far above the district rate of 38.1% and the state rate of 28.4%. This contrast is particularly striking when compared to nearby University Prep - Steele St., which serves an almost identical share of low-income students (89.2% FRPL) yet has a chronic absenteeism rate of just 3.6% and notably higher proficiency rates (28.4% ELA, 34.7% Math). Meanwhile, Polaris Elementary School, located just half a mile away, is ranked #1 in Colorado with 94.9% ELA and 91.5% Math proficiency, though it serves a very different demographic profile.

Despite the challenges, there are pockets of success worth noting. Students in grades 7 and 8 at Whittier achieved notably higher ELA proficiency (38.9% and 31.3%) than students in grades 3 through 6 (ranging from 13.0% to 19.2%), suggesting a strong middle-school teaching cohort that could be studied and scaled. Math proficiency remains the most extreme weakness, with overall rates nearly 25 percentage points behind the state average. However, the school has shown slow but consistent improvement over the past three years, with ELA rising from 9.7% to 21.3% and Math from 3.5% to 10.2%. Whittier's student-teacher ratio of 14.2 is actually favorable compared to Polaris (19.6) and Dora Moore Ece-8 School (16.5), yet outcomes lag considerably.

242

Students ?

14.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,737

Per pupil spending ?

88.4%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Colorado receive free school meals.

95%

Kindergartners fully immunized against measles (MMR) (2025-26)

Exemptions: 0% (MMR)

2480 Downing Street
Denver, CO 80205-5239

(720) 424-3040

District: School District No. 1

Students who attend Whittier Ece-8 School usually attend:

Middle:	DSST: Cole Middle School
	Manual Middle School
High:	East High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

50.4%

Hispanic:

29.8%

Two or more races:

12.0%

See top rated Colorado elementary schools

Compare Whittier Ece-8 School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 20th percentile in 2013 → 6th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Colorado average (16% vs 40% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (6th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (55% vs 28% Colorado)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school16%

District avg38%

Colorado avg40%

Elementary school

889^th of 946

Colorado public elementary schools ?

Bottom 6%▼ down 24 pts since 2016

From bottom 30% (2016) to bottom 6% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

351^st of 476

Colorado public middle schools ?

Bottom 26%▼ down 23 pts since 2017

From bottom 49% (2017) to bottom 26% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

88^th of 99Elementary Schools in the School District No. 1

69^th of 114School 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	9.9	889 of 946	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	8.3	915 of 950	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	8.7	895 of 921	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	23.2	736 of 965	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.9	643 of 917	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	23.3	704 of 929	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	27.1	641 of 914	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	20.4	746 of 938	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	24.7	747 of 962	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	22.7	766 of 954	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	16.4	795 of 935	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	8.7	862 of 935	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	4.5	898 of 925	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	12.9	773 of 872	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	10.7	771 of 849	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	7.2	800 of 852	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	2.7	814 of 829	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	5.9	781 of 823	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	18.6	681 of 808	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	22.4	351 of 476	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	11.2	410 of 448	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	42.9	216 of 424	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2015	31.4	293 of 436	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2014	14.6	405 of 461	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	21.4	371 of 454	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	17.7	362 of 425	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	13.2	375 of 422	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	7.6	384 of 409	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	19.5	324 of 377	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	21.5	305 of 362	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	11.8	325 of 360	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	2.5	339 of 346	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	12.3	304 of 340	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	50.9	169 of 336	49.7%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Colorado (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts21%-23 vs state

Math10%-27 vs state

★

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Schools Near Whittier Ece-8 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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CMAS English Language Arts (2026)							CMAS Math (2026)							CMAS Science (2026)		Vaccination (2025-26)		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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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	Vaccination: Kindergartners fully immunized against measles (MMR)	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Total
Whittier Ece-8 School	Public	PK, KG-8	2480 Downing Street	Denver	80205	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 424-3040	242	17	14.2	88.4%	13 (5.4%)	122 (50.4%)	72 (29.8%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.2%)	3 (1.2%)	29 (12.0%)	9.9	889^th of 946 public elementary schools	6.0%		8.3	915^th of 950 public elementary schools	3.7%	26	19.2	13.0	19.0	13.0	38.9	31.3	21.3	710.0	714.0	19.0	708.0	15.8	710.0	10.2	710.0	722.0	95%	0%	$21,737
Polaris Elementary School	Public	1-5	410 Park Avenue West	Denver	80205	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	No	(720) 424-7860	350	18	19.6	17.4%	198 (56.6%)	15 (4.3%)	49 (14.0%)	34 (9.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (15.4%)	99.4	1^st of 946 public elementary schools	99.9%		99.3	1^st of 950 public elementary schools	99.9%		92.4	92.5	100.0				94.9	89.9	88.8	96.1				91.5	100.0				$16,759
French American School of Denver	Public, Charter	K-5	2350 N. Gaylord Street	Denver	80205	Denver County	School District No. 1	Yes	No	No	No	(720) 506-4589	230	18	12.7	20.0%	163 (70.9%)	19 (8.3%)	22 (9.6%)	4 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (9.6%)	70.1	265^th of 946 public elementary schools	72.0%		81.4	159^th of 950 public elementary schools	83.3%	106	25.0	71.8	83.3				57.3	35.3	59.0	78.9				54.3	78.9		94.5%	3.6%	$11,986
Cole Arts and Science Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	1350 E 33rd Ave	Denver	80205	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 423-9120	275	21	13.0	83.6%	29 (10.5%)	41 (14.9%)	189 (68.7%)	3 (1.1%)	2 (0.7%)	2 (0.7%)	9 (3.3%)								(n/a)	695.0	696.0	715.0				7.6	12.9	705.0	707.0				6.8	694.0		84.2%	0%	$23,197
University Prep - Arapahoe St.	Public, Charter	K-5	2409 Arapahoe Street	Denver	80205	Denver County	School District No. 1	Yes	No	No	Yes	(303) 292-0463	313	27	11.7	89.8%	15 (4.8%)	155 (49.5%)	124 (39.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	3 (1.0%)	12 (3.8%)	17.5	782^nd of 946 public elementary schools	17.3%		13.8	822^nd of 950 public elementary schools	13.5%	40	19.0	18.6	16.2				18.1	23.8	33.9	18.9				26.8	696.0		76.6%	6.4%	$18,826
Downtown Denver Expeditionary School	Public, Charter	K-5	1860 Lincoln St	Denver	80203	Denver County	School District No. 1	Yes	No	No	No	(720) 424-2350	263	17	15.2	34.2%	134 (51.0%)	19 (7.2%)	78 (29.7%)	4 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	26 (9.9%)	34.6	577^th of 946 public elementary schools	39.0%		48.6	451^st of 950 public elementary schools	52.5%	126	15.4	40.6	46.8				34.7	20.5	25.0	42.6				30.5	34.0		92.5%	0%	$16,918
Columbine Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2540 East 29th Ave	Denver	80205	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 424-8510	346	25	14.0	42.2%	157 (45.4%)	62 (17.9%)	85 (24.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.0%)	33 (9.5%)	37.6	545^th of 946 public elementary schools	42.4%		48.2	459^th of 950 public elementary schools	51.7%	86	40.0	51.1	37.8				43.4	40.0	33.3	16.7				30.6	22.2		88.1%	0%	$19,233
Wyatt Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	3620 Franklin Street	Denver	80205	Denver County	School District No. 1	Yes	No	No	Yes	(303) 292-5515	240	18	13.6	81.3%	22 (9.2%)	43 (17.9%)	166 (69.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	7 (2.9%)	20.1	741^st of 946 public elementary schools	21.7%		21.8	714^th of 950 public elementary schools	24.8%	27	12.1	30.6	31.1				25.4	27.3	11.1	33.3				24.6	714.0		53.7%	4.9%	$15,338
Dora Moore Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	846 Corona Street	Denver	80218	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 424-5300	349	21	16.5	65.3%	108 (30.9%)	55 (15.8%)	135 (38.7%)	4 (1.1%)	4 (1.1%)	4 (1.1%)	38 (10.9%)	21	728^th of 946 public elementary schools	23.0%		21	724^th of 950 public elementary schools	23.8%	4	30.8	19.4	23.5				24.8	25.6	22.2	20.0				22.7	31.4		91.8%	0%	$18,380
University Prep - Steele St.	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	3230 East 38th Avenue	Denver	80205	Denver County	School District No. 1	Yes	No	No	Yes	(303) 329-8412	334	29	11.4	89.2%	15 (4.5%)	94 (28.1%)	206 (61.7%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	5 (1.5%)	10 (3.0%)	28	645^th of 946 public elementary schools	31.8%		23.2	694^th of 950 public elementary schools	26.9%	49	31.6	31.1	21.6				28.4	38.6	42.6	21.2				34.7	11.5		70.7%	0%	$18,565

Frequently Asked Questions about Whittier Ece-8 School

What is the racial makeup of Whittier Ece-8 School?

Students at Whittier Ece-8 School are 50% African American, 30% Hispanic, 12% Two or more races, 5% White, 1% American Indian, 1% Pacific Islander.

What schools do graduates of Whittier Ece-8 School attend?

Students who attend Whittier Ece-8 School usually go on to attend:

Middle : DSST: Cole Middle School
Middle : Manual Middle School
High : East High School

What district is Whittier Ece-8 School in?

School District No. 1

Is Whittier Ece-8 School a good school?

Whittier Ece-8 School ranks in the bottom 6.0% of Colorado elementary schools.

How many students attend Whittier Ece-8 School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 242 students attended Whittier Ece-8 School.

Rate Whittier Ece-8 School!

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Latest Colorado data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2025–26 attendance dataOct 6, 2026

2025–26 CMAS, PSAT10, PSAT9 & SAT test scoresAug 19, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJun 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.