Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

STEM School Highlands Ranch

Public, Charter, Alternative Grades K-12
169th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 950 Colorado Alternative Schools
Better than 82% of Colorado alternative schools
Summary

STEM School Highlands Ranch is an alternative public charter school serving 1,399 students in grades K-12 in the affluent Highlands Ranch community, which is part of the highly-ranked Douglas County School District.

The school consistently outperforms the district and state averages on a variety of metrics, including graduation rates (ranging from 82.3% to 92.2%), standardized test scores (e.g., 69.1% of 8th graders are projected to be proficient or better in CMAS science, compared to 53.9% in the district and 36.4% statewide), and dropout rates (0.6% to 2.2%). This strong academic performance suggests that STEM School Highlands Ranch is effectively preparing its students for success. The school's focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education appears to be paying off, with students excelling in science assessments.

While the school has higher chronic absenteeism rates than the district, this is an area that the school could focus on to further improve student outcomes. Compared to nearby schools, STEM School Highlands Ranch serves a relatively low percentage of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, which may contribute to the school's strong academic performance. The school's location in the affluent Highlands Ranch community, as well as its status as a public charter school, may also attract families who are highly engaged in their children's education, which could be another factor in the school's success.

1,394
Students ?
17.6
Student/teacher ratio ?
$15,365
Per pupil spending ?
13.5%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 8773 Ridgeline Drive
       Highlands Ranch, CO  80129-2381

(303) 683-7836

District: Douglas County School District No. Re 1

Racial breakdown:

White:
50.7%
Asian:
26.3%
Hispanic:
12.1%
more
 See top rated Colorado elementary schools

 Compare STEM School Highlands Ranch to nearby alternative schools!
At a glance
Ranking trend: Holding steady — 97th percentile in 2022 → 96th in 2025
Strengths
Test scores above the Colorado average (66% vs 42% meeting standards)
Ranks in the top 18% of Colorado alternative schools
98% graduate in 4 years — above the Colorado average (86%)
Worth a look
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?
This school66%
District avg60%
Colorado avg42%
Elementary school
169th of 950
Colorado public elementary schools ?
Top 18%▼ down 6 pts since 2016
From top 11% (2016) to top 18% (2025)
See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
43rd of 469
Colorado public middle schools ?
Top 9%▼ down 5 pts since 2015
From top 4% (2015) to top 9% (2025)
See the entire ranking list of Colorado Middle Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
High school
13th of 328
Colorado public high schools ?
Top 4%▼ down 2 pts since 2015
See the entire ranking list of Colorado High Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
1st of 2Alternative Schools in the Douglas County School District No. Re 1
9th of 115Douglas County School District No. Re 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

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankColorado percentileRating
202580.8169 of 95082.2%★★★★☆
202481.6157 of 94383.4%★★★★☆
202381.7149 of 93384.0%★★★★☆
202276.1197 of 92178.6%★★★★☆
202183.3122 of 71082.8%★★★★☆
201991.362 of 96593.6%★★★★★
201888.385 of 91790.7%★★★★★
201788.781 of 92991.3%★★★★★
201685.4104 of 91488.6%★★★★☆
201489.561 of 96293.7%★★★★★

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankColorado percentileRating
202550.98 of 1338.5%★★★☆☆
202461.07 of 1241.7%★★★☆☆
202335.112 of 1520.0%★★☆☆☆
202237.66 of 1040.0%★★☆☆☆
202140.85 of 616.7%★★★☆☆
201973.24 of 1163.6%★★★★☆
201857.35 of 944.4%★★★☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankColorado percentileRating
202564.4214 of 69469.2%★★★☆☆
202473.2154 of 68477.5%★★★★☆
202377.6124 of 64280.7%★★★★☆
202268.6170 of 59571.4%★★★★☆
202167.2133 of 35162.1%★★★☆☆
201986.964 of 75891.6%★★★★★
201884.370 of 69089.9%★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankColorado percentileRating
202562.952 of 11956.3%★★★☆☆
202453.555 of 9139.6%★★☆☆☆
202355.447 of 8242.7%★★☆☆☆
201962.645 of 11059.1%★★★☆☆
201861.540 of 8452.4%★★★☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankColorado percentileRating
202580.8117 of 70083.3%★★★★☆
202476.6141 of 68379.4%★★★★☆
202372.3164 of 64974.7%★★★★☆
202268.8174 of 59470.7%★★★★☆
202180.770 of 35280.1%★★★★☆
201988.559 of 76492.3%★★★★★
201885.876 of 69389.0%★★★★☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankColorado percentileRating
202552.4271 of 55150.8%★★★☆☆
202441.8329 of 53939.0%★★☆☆☆
202347.9278 of 52547.0%★★☆☆☆
202238.1309 of 45431.9%★★☆☆☆
202151.7164 of 28843.1%★★☆☆☆
201970.5145 of 59675.7%★★★★☆
201871.485 of 33774.8%★★★★☆
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankColorado percentileRating
202589.143 of 46990.8%★★★★★
202483.962 of 48587.2%★★★★☆
202384.658 of 48087.9%★★★★☆
202287.144 of 44890.2%★★★★★
202192.623 of 36993.8%★★★★★
201991.629 of 45893.7%★★★★★
201888.132 of 41892.3%★★★★★
201787.142 of 42490.1%★★★★★
201691.024 of 40094.0%★★★★★
201594.518 of 43695.9%★★★★★
201490.328 of 46193.9%★★★★★

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankColorado percentileRating
202558.412 of 2653.8%★★★☆☆
202464.98 of 2161.9%★★★☆☆
202351.411 of 1838.9%★★☆☆☆
202259.06 of 1560.0%★★★★☆
202147.34 of 633.3%★★★☆☆
201976.46 of 2576.0%★★★★☆
201866.66 of 1662.5%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankColorado percentileRating
202583.841 of 34788.2%★★★★☆
202479.554 of 35084.6%★★★★☆
202382.552 of 36385.7%★★★★☆
202283.243 of 32686.8%★★★★☆
202185.623 of 25490.9%★★★★★
201990.424 of 35293.2%★★★★★
201888.123 of 31592.7%★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankColorado percentileRating
202564.147 of 13264.4%★★★☆☆
202470.331 of 12675.4%★★★★☆
202357.566 of 12547.2%★★☆☆☆
202266.432 of 9365.6%★★★☆☆
201966.635 of 13473.9%★★★★☆
201870.124 of 12180.2%★★★★☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankColorado percentileRating
202573.832 of 21885.3%★★★★☆
202381.224 of 19887.9%★★★★☆
201997.76 of 22097.3%★★★★★
201899.92 of 16598.8%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankColorado percentileRating
202586.939 of 35288.9%★★★★☆
202480.753 of 35785.2%★★★★☆
202379.456 of 35684.3%★★★★☆
202284.436 of 32889.0%★★★★☆
202190.918 of 24992.8%★★★★★
201990.628 of 34391.8%★★★★★
201887.826 of 31791.8%★★★★★

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankColorado percentileRating
201993.91 of 3196.8%★★★★★

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankColorado percentileRating
202559.795 of 27565.5%★★★☆☆
202452.7120 of 27356.0%★★★☆☆
202358.8102 of 28664.3%★★★☆☆
202263.377 of 26570.9%★★★★☆
202172.745 of 20377.8%★★★★☆
201965.180 of 28371.7%★★★★☆
201867.550 of 19974.9%★★★★☆
High school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankColorado percentileRating
202594.313 of 32896.0%★★★★★
202494.115 of 34995.7%★★★★★
202394.312 of 34996.6%★★★★★
202294.07 of 22196.8%★★★★★
202194.37 of 21096.7%★★★★★
201998.08 of 41198.1%★★★★★
201884.149 of 38887.4%★★★★☆
201777.819 of 25692.6%★★★★★
201683.411 of 25595.7%★★★★★
201593.77 of 29297.6%★★★★★
201493.510 of 36997.3%★★★★★

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankColorado percentileRating
202580.17 of 4383.7%★★★★☆
202488.32 of 4395.3%★★★★★
202378.45 of 4388.4%★★★★★
202274.36 of 4586.7%★★★★☆
202174.79 of 4178.0%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankColorado percentileRating
202587.728 of 24788.7%★★★★☆
202492.911 of 25795.7%★★★★★
202393.312 of 25495.3%★★★★★
202291.418 of 25793.0%★★★★★
202192.013 of 23994.6%★★★★★
201852.63 of 30.0%★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankColorado percentileRating
202567.249 of 13664.0%★★★☆☆
202476.413 of 14090.7%★★★★★
202374.717 of 13587.4%★★★★☆
202278.83 of 10897.2%★★★★★
202176.85 of 11895.8%★★★★★
201851.52 of 20.0%★★★★☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankColorado percentileRating
202394.413 of 19893.4%★★★★★
202299.34 of 20598.0%★★★★★
202199.43 of 18198.3%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankColorado percentileRating
202593.814 of 24694.3%★★★★★
202492.916 of 25693.8%★★★★★
202392.812 of 25295.2%★★★★★
202296.34 of 25398.4%★★★★★
202195.95 of 24097.9%★★★★★
201836.93 of 30.0%★★★★☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankColorado percentileRating
202586.622 of 20989.5%★★★★☆
202490.611 of 22995.2%★★★★★
202389.213 of 23494.4%★★★★★
202290.513 of 22894.3%★★★★★
202188.813 of 22594.2%★★★★★
201836.52 of 20.0%★★★★☆
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
Male (2025)83rd percentile~ school
Female (2025)69th percentile-13 vs school
Gifted and Talented (2025)56th percentile-26 vs school
White (2025)51st percentile-31 vs school
Asian (2025)38th percentile-44 vs school
Middle school
Multi-racial (2019)97th percentile+3 vs school
Male (2025)89th percentile~ school
Female (2025)88th percentile-3 vs school
Hispanic (2025)85th percentile-6 vs school
White (2025)65th percentile-25 vs school
Gifted and Talented (2025)64th percentile-26 vs school
Asian (2025)54th percentile-37 vs school
High school
Male (2025)94th percentile~ school
Hispanic (2023)93rd percentile-3 vs school
White (2025)89th percentile-7 vs school
Female (2025)89th percentile-7 vs school
Asian (2025)84th percentile-12 vs school
Gifted and Talented (2025)64th percentile-32 vs school
By subject vs Colorado (2024-2025) ?
Reading and Writing92%+27 vs state
Mathematics66%+28 vs state
English Language Arts65%+20 vs state
Science63%+29 vs state
Math57%+21 vs state

3.5
6 ratings · 4 written reviews
53
40
31
21
11
Rate STEM School Highlands Ranch
Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.
Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.
Tap a star to rate
What people are saying
by a parent
Friday, January 30, 2026

Open Quote

STEM School Highlands Ranch is a school where students are truly known and supported. The teachers are deeply committed to both academic excellence and student well-being, taking time to build strong relationships and meet learners where they are. They are approachable, passionate, and consistently go the extra mile to help students succeed.

The administrative team and principals are visible, responsive, and genuinely invested in the school community. Their leadership fosters a culture of care, high expectations, and open communication, creating an environment where students feel safe, valued, and challenged. Close Quote


by a parent
Sunday, July 5, 2020

Open Quote We brought 2 kids here from American Academy.
1 was 6th, now 8th, and other was 1st, now 3rd.

AA was a good school, but stem is even better. the teachers here really are spectacular.
The admin has been amazing. They have dealt with a shooting, subsequent lose of teachers, pandemic, politics from certain parents, working on a start-up charter school, etc. With a different admin, I would imagine that they would be too distracted to really pay attention to the school. Close Quote


by a parent
Sunday, February 5, 2017

Open Quote My daughter moved here at the beginning of this school year. We could not be more pleased! Challenging academics, kind considerate teaching staff and a wonderful school community, where tolerance & respect for one another are abundant! Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Open Quote Please know that STEM only graduated its first class last spring, 2015 and about 45 students. These numbers can therefore, be deceiving and a longer term set of results will yield a better understanding overall. Close Quote





Schools Near STEM School Highlands Ranch

Ranking:
Map legend
E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private






Frequently Asked Questions about STEM School Highlands Ranch

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,394 students attended STEM School Highlands Ranch.

Students at STEM School Highlands Ranch are 51% White, 26% Asian, 12% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 3% African American.

STEM School Highlands Ranch ranks 169th of 950 Colorado alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.


Rate STEM School Highlands Ranch!



Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for STEM School Highlands Ranch!




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.





Diagnostics