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Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy

Public, Alternative Grades 1-12

910^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 950 Colorado Alternative Schools

Better than 4% of Colorado alternative schools

Summary

Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy is an alternative public school in Denver, Colorado that serves grades K-12 with 789 students. The school is part of the School District No. 1, which is ranked 76 out of 115 districts in Colorado and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy faces significant challenges compared to state and local averages. The school has had 4-year graduation rates ranging from 79.0% to 84.2% in recent years, lower than the state average of around 80%. Its dropout rates have ranged from 1.0% to 3.8%, higher than the state average. Chronic absenteeism has been a major issue, with rates ranging from 27.7% to 49.7%, far exceeding state and district averages. On standardized tests, Kunsmiller students perform well below state and district proficiency levels, with projected 2024-2025 CMAS scores of only 9.8% in math and 17.4% in English language arts, compared to state averages of 35.9% and 44.8% respectively. The school also serves a high-need student population, with 73.31% to 80.48% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

When compared to nearby schools like Golden View Classical Academy, STEM School Highlands Ranch, and Collegiate Academy of Colorado, Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy performs significantly worse across most metrics. Even compared to other alternative schools in the area, such as Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy and Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning, Kunsmiller's outcomes are concerning. Addressing the school's low academic achievement, high absenteeism, and high-need student population will be critical to improving outcomes for its students.

670

Students ?

15.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,521

Per pupil spending ?

82.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2250 South Quitman Way
Denver, CO 80219-5139

(720) 424-0200

District: School District No. 1

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

80.4%

White:

9.4%

African American:

3.6%

See top rated Colorado elementary schools

Compare Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 19th percentile in 2022 → 16th in 2025

Strengths

✓95% graduate in 4 years — above the Colorado average (86%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Colorado average (18% vs 42% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (4th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (52% vs 28% Colorado)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school18%

District avg38%

Colorado avg42%

Elementary school

910^th of 950

Colorado public elementary schools ?

Bottom 4%▼ down 15 pts since 2015

From bottom 19% (2015) to bottom 4% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

438^th of 469

Colorado public middle schools ?

Bottom 7%▼ down 11 pts since 2015

From bottom 17% (2015) to bottom 7% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

274^th of 328

Colorado public high schools ?

Bottom 16%▼ down 33 pts since 2015

From bottom 49% (2015) to bottom 16% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

76^th 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	8.6	910 of 950	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.4	875 of 943	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.0	856 of 933	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	11.6	860 of 921	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	22.2	746 of 965	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.8	743 of 917	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	22.8	708 of 929	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	23.3	694 of 914	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	19.3	759 of 938	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	11.3	884 of 962	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	9.5	878 of 954	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	18.4	780 of 935	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	18.4	780 of 935	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2019	23.1	580 of 758	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.7	555 of 690	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2023	36.8	124 of 197	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	14.4	149 of 153	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	27.0	214 of 270	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2019	15.7	663 of 764	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.6	542 of 693	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	10.6	438 of 469	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.1	444 of 485	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.4	426 of 480	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	12.7	396 of 448	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.9	323 of 369	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.0	303 of 458	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.6	266 of 418	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	23.5	323 of 424	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	26.9	288 of 400	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	19.5	361 of 436	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	14.7	403 of 461	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	15.8	396 of 454	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	11.9	376 of 425	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	11.7	377 of 422	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	8.9	329 of 347	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	8.8	334 of 350	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.4	354 of 363	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	10.3	298 of 326	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	29.6	242 of 352	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.8	206 of 315	34.6%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	13.7	205 of 218	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.7	173 of 199	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.7	174 of 198	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.6	153 of 169	9.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	46.5	109 of 220	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.8	84 of 165	49.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	17.3	219 of 241	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	20.3	205 of 241	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.4	169 of 197	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	53.4	96 of 240	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.1	52 of 222	76.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	9.4	336 of 352	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.3	330 of 357	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	14.9	304 of 356	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.9	290 of 328	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.1	250 of 343	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.0	227 of 317	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	17.8	274 of 328	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.6	294 of 349	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.3	281 of 349	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.3	180 of 221	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.0	321 of 411	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.3	306 of 388	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	21.2	198 of 256	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	25.8	181 of 255	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	40.5	149 of 292	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2014	37.9	242 of 369	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	25.7	258 of 349	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	13.0	286 of 334	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	14.0	214 of 247	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.4	208 of 257	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.2	199 of 254	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.5	190 of 257	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.3	180 of 239	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	35.5	112 of 187	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	18.9	166 of 199	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.3	150 of 198	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	36.6	121 of 205	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	29.6	123 of 181	32.0%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	19.6	165 of 194	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.8	139 of 200	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.2	113 of 203	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	52.0	77 of 188	59.0%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	24.2	185 of 246	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	13.1	222 of 256	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.9	218 of 252	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.3	197 of 253	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.1	189 of 240	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆

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

Hispanic (2023)37th percentile+29 vs school

Female (2019)23rd percentile~ school

Male (2019)13th percentile-9 vs school

Middle school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)9th percentile+3 vs school

Hispanic (2025)6th percentile~ school

Female (2025)5th percentile~ school

Male (2025)5th percentile~ school

High school

Hispanic (2025)40th percentile+24 vs school

Male (2025)25th percentile+8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)15th percentile~ school

Female (2025)13th percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs Colorado (2024-2025) ?

Reading and Writing52%-13 vs state

Mathematics25%-13 vs state

English Language Arts17%-27 vs state

Science12%-22 vs state

Math10%-26 vs state

2.7

3 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★1

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, January 14, 2022

Principal is L A Z Y puts safety of students at risk Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, November 30, 2012

Too much BULLYING goes on at this school. Poor special ed programs also I know this is an art school but they focus to much on art and little on academics. Close Quote

by a student on FaceBook
Saturday, November 26, 2011

its a cool school because its creative and you learn alot of stuff Close Quote

Schools Near Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy

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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 ()				Ranking ()				PSAT10 Reading and Writing (2025)	PSAT10 Mathematics (2025)	PSAT9 Reading and Writing (2025)	PSAT9 Mathematics (2025)	SAT Reading and Writing (2025)	SAT Mathematics (2025)	CMAS English Language Arts (2025)							CMAS Math (2025)							CMAS Science (2025)			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 ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	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 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	CMAS Science 11th Grade	Total
Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy	Public, Alternative	1-12	2250 South Quitman Way	Denver	80219	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 424-0200	670	44	15.4	82.1%	63 (9.4%)	24 (3.6%)	539 (80.4%)	19 (2.8%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (2.4%)								(n/a)	38.0	22.0	52.0	25.0	33.0	7.0	13.0	10.0	18.5	18.1	18.6	18.6	17.4		10.0		7.2	6.0	15.8	9.8	11.5	12.0	14.3	$18,521
Rocky Mountain Deaf School	Public, Charter, Alternative	PK, KG-12	10300 W. Nassau Ave	Denver	80235	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	Yes	No	No	No	(303) 984-5749	82	18	4.4	42.7%	43 (52.4%)	5 (6.1%)	28 (34.1%)	4 (4.9%)	1 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.2%)								(n/a)																								$55,062
JeffCo Remote Learning Program	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	1505 South Pierson St	Lakewood	80232	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(303) 910-2671	399	33	12.1		180 (45.1%)	10 (2.5%)	181 (45.4%)	7 (1.8%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.3%)								(n/a)	58.0										26.3		20.7							7.3				$18,350
Miller Special Education	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	200 Kipling Street	Lakewood	80226	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	No	(303) 982-7200	97	19	5.1	38.1%	64 (66.0%)	1 (1.0%)	24 (24.7%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (7.2%)								(n/a)																								$73,738
Sobesky Academy	Public, Alternative	K-12	2001 Hoyt Street	Lakewood	80215	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	Yes	(303) 982-5995	101	15	6.6	78.2%	48 (47.5%)	4 (4.0%)	41 (40.6%)	2 (2.0%)	2 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.0%)								(n/a)																								$52,523
Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning	Public, Alternative	K-12	1700 South Holly Street	Denver	80222	Denver County	Denver 1	No	No	No	No	(303) 759-2076	382	24	16.1	2.4%	297 (77.7%)	5 (1.3%)	51 (13.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (6.8%)								(n/a)			75.0	42.0			30.0	33.3	82.6	72.5	55.3	57.5	58.0	30.0	50.0	78.3	55.0	38.3	35.0	46.3	65.2	51.2		$12,809
Collegiate Academy of Colorado	Public, Charter, Alternative	PK, KG-12	8420 South Sangre De Cristo Rd	Littleton	80127	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	Yes	No	No	No	(303) 972-7433	245	28	8.7	29.8%	164 (66.9%)	5 (2.0%)	49 (20.0%)	8 (3.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (7.3%)								(n/a)		39.0			50.0			30.0	68.8		29.4	40.0	40.0		25.0	25.0			25.0	22.9		37.5	18.2	$12,590
Golden View Classical Academy	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	601 Corporate Circle	Golden	80401	Jefferson County	State Charter School Institute	Yes	No	No	No	(720) 598-6700	737	42	17.3		627 (85.1%)	5 (0.7%)	54 (7.3%)	20 (2.7%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	27 (3.7%)								(n/a)	95.0	78.0	94.0	74.0	91.0	81.0	69.4	51.6	65.5	69.0	55.1	54.9	61.2	72.6	55.0	43.1	61.0	49.0	51.0	55.8	47.4	51.9	73.0	$12,506
STEM School Highlands Ranch	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	8773 Ridgeline Drive	Highlands Ranch	80129	Douglas County	Douglas County School District No. Re 1	Yes	No	No	No	(303) 683-7836	1,394	79	17.6	13.5%	707 (50.7%)	35 (2.5%)	168 (12.1%)	367 (26.3%)	4 (0.3%)	5 (0.4%)	108 (7.7%)								(n/a)	91.0	66.0	92.0	66.0	94.0	68.0	58.5	53.8	63.0	72.3	70.7	66.2	65.0	66.0	41.3	59.3	57.1	53.0	60.1	56.6	58.3	69.1	59.1	$15,365
Lotus School for Excellence	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	11001-A East Alameda Avenue	Aurora	80012	Arapahoe County	Aurora Joint District No. 28	Yes	No	No	Yes	(303) 360-0052	1,008	66	15.2	91.8%	110 (10.9%)	393 (39.0%)	452 (44.8%)	17 (1.7%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (3.3%)								(n/a)	45.0	22.0	54.0	13.0	43.0	28.0	18.9	11.8	28.0	23.1	24.2	30.3	23.0	12.2	31.6	17.6	15.2	7.2	11.8	15.4	32.9	10.8		$15,356

Frequently Asked Questions about Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy

What is the racial makeup of Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy?

Students at Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy are 80% Hispanic, 9% White, 4% African American, 3% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

How many students attend Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 670 students attended Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy.

What district is Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy in?

School District No. 1

Is Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy a good school?

Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy ranks in the bottom 4.2% of Colorado alternative schools.

Rate Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy!

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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.