Green Valley Elementary School

Green Valley Elementary School is a PK–5 elementary school in Denver's School District No. 1 serving 714 students, with roughly 82% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch — making it one of the largest and highest-poverty elementary schools in its immediate area. Academically, the school is a mid-to-lower performer in Colorado, ranked 686th out of 943 elementary schools (27th percentile) with a 1-star rating. But the most important story is momentum: after several years ranked in the mid-to-high 700s, Green Valley now holds its best relative standing in nearly a decade.

That upward trend shows in test scores. ELA proficiency has climbed from 23.7% to 32% in two years, while math has risen from 17.9% to 25.8% — a gain of nearly ten points since 2022–23. Science remains weak at 16.3% proficiency, less than half the state average. Against nearby schools, Green Valley is competitive: it outperforms Marrama Elementary School (18.1% ELA, 13.0% math), Florida Pitt-Waller Ece-8 School (24.7% ELA, 13.1% math), and Omar D Blair Charter School (26.2% ELA, 17.0% math), and trails KIPP Northeast Elementary by only a few points despite serving more low-income students.

The biggest non-academic concern is chronic absenteeism. While improving from 43.1% to 38.5%, it still affects 4 in 10 students, well above the state average of 28.4%. A telling comparison: Aurora Highlands K-8 in Aurora Joint District No. 28 has nearly the same state rank (689th) and math scores (24.4%), but serves a far less disadvantaged population (61% vs. 82% free/reduced lunch) with much lower absenteeism (25.2%). That suggests Green Valley is adding more value than its raw scores show. The school also demonstrates relative strength serving African American students and English learners, while female students and science remain clear areas of focus. This is a school in transition, not decline — improving academics, falling absenteeism, and solid results despite major socioeconomic obstacles.