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University Prep - Steele St.

Q: Is University Prep - Steele St. a good school?

University Prep - Steele St. ranks 645 th of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades PK, KG-5

645^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 946 Colorado Elementary Schools

Better than 32% of Colorado elementary schools

Summary

University Prep - Steele St. is an elementary school in Denver's School District No. 1 serving 334 students in grades PK through 5 in a high-poverty area of the city, where nearly 90% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school currently ranks in the 32nd percentile statewide, but what truly sets it apart is its exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate of just 3.6% — roughly one-tenth the district rate of 38.1% and dramatically lower than nearby schools like Swansea Elementary (48.0%) or Whittier ECE-8 (50.6%).

Academically, University Prep - Steele St. is a standout among its high-poverty neighbors. Its math proficiency rate of 34.7% is nearly identical to the district average of 35.0%, and it outperforms both the district and state in 4th grade math (42.6% vs. 34.9% and 39.0%, respectively). In ELA, the school's 28.4% proficiency rate leads comparable schools such as Smith Elementary (27.0%) and Hallett Academy (24.7%), while far exceeding Cole Arts and Science Academy (7.6%). The school has also improved steadily over four years, rising from the 17th to the 32nd percentile, with ELA proficiency doubling from 13.9% to 28.4%.

The school's low student-teacher ratio of 11.4 and strong results for Hispanic students (59th percentile statewide) suggest effective supports. However, science remains a weakness, with just 11.5% of 5th graders proficient, and 5th grade scores dip noticeably in both ELA and math. Nearby Stedman Elementary and French American School of Denver post higher absolute scores but serve far fewer low-income students. Overall, University Prep - Steele St. is a school punching above its weight demographically, with exceptional attendance and an upward trajectory worth watching.

334

Students ?

11.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,565

Per pupil spending ?

89.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3230 East 38th Avenue
Denver, CO 80205-3726

(303) 329-8412

District: School District No. 1

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

61.7%

African American:

28.1%

White:

4.5%

See top rated Colorado elementary schools

Compare University Prep - Steele St. to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 4th percentile in 2014 → 32nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 28 percentile points since 2014

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Colorado average (29% vs 41% meeting standards)

!Science scores 25 pts below the Colorado average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school29%

District avg38%

Colorado avg41%

645^th of 946

Colorado public elementary schools ?

Bottom 32%▼ down 23 pts since 2017

From top 45% (2017) to bottom 32% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

47^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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	28.0	645 of 946	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	23.2	694 of 950	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.4	696 of 943	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.2	771 of 933	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.9	724 of 921	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.8	656 of 965	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.1	520 of 917	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2017	50.3	417 of 929	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2015	9.6	908 of 938	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	7.4	927 of 962	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	7.7	895 of 954	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	6.1	904 of 935	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	4.6	911 of 935	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	19.1	769 of 925	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	9.8	800 of 872	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	8.5	787 of 849	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	5.7	809 of 852	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	6.2	785 of 829	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	15.2	714 of 823	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	7.8	751 of 808	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2019	66.6	12 of 43	72.1%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	22.9	527 of 695	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	28.1	481 of 694	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.6	343 of 684	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	25.8	551 of 758	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	51.1	101 of 251	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.4	63 of 242	74.0%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	21.2	551 of 697	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	19.6	550 of 700	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.8	524 of 683	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.2	575 of 764	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆

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 (2019)72nd percentile+40 vs school

Hispanic (2026)60th percentile+28 vs school

Female (2026)24th percentile-8 vs school

Male (2026)21st percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs Colorado (2025-2026) ?

Math35%-3 vs state

English Language Arts28%-16 vs state

Science12%-25 vs state

★

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Schools Near University Prep - Steele St.

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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
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		$18,565
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		$19,233
Swansea Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4650 Columbine Street	Denver	80216	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 424-3630	381	27	14.3	86.4%	16 (4.2%)	25 (6.6%)	331 (86.9%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (1.6%)	11	876^th of 946 public elementary schools	7.4%		8	920^th of 950 public elementary schools	3.2%	44	708.0	707.0	16.0				14.6	23.5	15.6	13.5				17.6			$21,359
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		$15,338
Stedman Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2940 Dexter Street	Denver	80207	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	No	(720) 424-3800	447	23	19.0	41.2%	160 (35.8%)	124 (27.7%)	125 (28.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (7.8%)	54.7	403^rd of 946 public elementary schools	57.4%		56.4	394^th of 950 public elementary schools	58.5%	9	51.5	44.4	53.7				50.0	43.7	43.1	37.3				41.4	36.5		$16,359
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		$23,197
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		$11,986
Smith Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3590 Jasmine Street	Denver	80207	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 424-4000	457	29	15.6	88.8%	30 (6.6%)	117 (25.6%)	280 (61.3%)	4 (0.9%)	8 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.9%)	14	828^th of 946 public elementary schools	12.5%		12.9	839^th of 950 public elementary schools	11.7%	11	18.9	25.0	34.7				27.0	18.2	14.3	10.2				14.4	18.0		$19,955
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	$21,737
Hallett Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	2950 Jasmine Street	Denver	80207	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 424-6070	250	22	11.4	81.6%	23 (9.2%)	156 (62.4%)	50 (20.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (8.0%)	14	829^th of 946 public elementary schools	12.4%		10.6	878^th of 950 public elementary schools	7.6%	49	20.8	20.0	34.8				24.7	701.0	13.3	716.0				13.0	714.0		$22,184

Frequently Asked Questions about University Prep - Steele St.

What is the racial makeup of University Prep - Steele St.?

Students at University Prep - Steele St. are 62% Hispanic, 28% African American, 4% White, 3% Two or more races, 1% Pacific Islander.

Is University Prep - Steele St. a good school?

University Prep - Steele St. ranks 645^th of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is University Prep - Steele St. in?

School District No. 1

How many students attend University Prep - Steele St.?

In the 2024-25 school year, 334 students attended University Prep - Steele St..

Rate University Prep - Steele St.!

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Latest Colorado data All new data »

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

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.