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Zach Elementary School

Public Grades K-5

11^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 943 Colorado Elementary Schools

Better than 99% of Colorado elementary schools

Summary

Zach Elementary School, located in Fort Collins, CO, serves 492 students in grades K–5 as part of the Poudre School District R-1 and has earned a reputation as one of the very best elementary schools in Colorado, ranking 11th out of 943 statewide for 2025–2026. Over the past decade, it has never ranked lower than 27th, including a #3 finish in both 2022–2023 and 2020–2021. On the most recent state assessments, Zach vastly outperformed its district and state averages: 87% of students scored proficient in ELA versus 60.1% for the district and 44.7% for the state; math proficiency reached 81.9% versus 52.2% and 37.3% respectively; and 5th-grade science proficiency hit 88.5% versus 50.4% and 36.1% respectively.

Zach leads every nearby school on core academic measures. Compared to Traut Core Elementary School, the next-highest-performing school in the area, Zach holds a 7.4-point advantage in ELA, 7.7 points in math, and a striking 24.1-point advantage in science. The gap widens dramatically against schools like Linton Elementary School, just 2.11 miles away, where math proficiency is only 25.8% versus Zach's 81.9%. Zach also stands out for its low chronic absenteeism rate of 13.7%, a major improvement from 24.4% the prior year and well below the district rate of 30.7% and the state rate of 28.4%. The school's free/reduced-price lunch rate of 15.9% has been rising in recent years, yet achievement has remained consistently elite.

Zach's strong results are not limited to one group of students. The school ranks in the 99th percentile for effectiveness with male students (7th of 694 schools) and female students (16th of 692), and in the 93rd percentile for gifted/talented students (8th of 120). Grade-level proficiency also climbs steadily from 3rd to 5th grade, with ELA rising from 71.4% to 94.4% and math from 71.9% to 88.8% — evidence of strong cumulative growth. With its decade-long record of top-tier results, standout science program, and position as an academic anchor in an already strong Poudre School District R-1, Zach Elementary is clearly one of the flagship elementary schools in Northern Colorado.

492

Students ?

16.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,080

Per pupil spending ?

15.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3715 Kechter Road
Fort Collins, CO 80528-9543

(970) 488-5100

District: Poudre School District R-1

Students who attend Zach Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Preston Middle School
High:	Fossil Ridge High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

61.8%

Hispanic:

14.2%

Asian:

11.8%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 97th percentile in 2016 → 99th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Colorado average (85% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 1% of Colorado elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Poudre School District R-1

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school85%

District avg56%

Colorado avg41%

11^th of 943

Colorado public elementary schools ?

Top 1%▲ up 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 30Elementary Schools in the Poudre School District R-1

12^th of 115Poudre School District R-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	97.8	11 of 943	98.8%	★★★★★
2025	98.5	7 of 950	99.3%	★★★★★
2024	98.1	8 of 943	99.2%	★★★★★
2023	99.1	3 of 933	99.7%	★★★★★
2022	98.4	6 of 921	99.3%	★★★★★
2021	98.9	3 of 710	99.6%	★★★★★
2019	98.6	7 of 965	99.3%	★★★★★
2018	95.9	27 of 917	97.1%	★★★★★
2017	97.0	13 of 929	98.6%	★★★★★
2016	95.4	25 of 914	97.3%	★★★★★
2015	95.9	25 of 938	97.3%	★★★★★
2014	94.8	13 of 962	98.6%	★★★★★
2013	94.1	18 of 954	98.1%	★★★★★
2012	93.8	15 of 935	98.4%	★★★★★
2011	92.9	18 of 935	98.1%	★★★★★
2010	94.5	8 of 925	99.1%	★★★★★
2009	93.8	12 of 872	98.6%	★★★★★
2008	92.9	20 of 849	97.6%	★★★★★
2007	90.4	35 of 852	95.9%	★★★★★
2006	88.9	51 of 829	93.8%	★★★★★
2005	85.9	80 of 823	90.3%	★★★★★
2004	87.9	60 of 808	92.6%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	94.7	16 of 692	97.7%	★★★★★
2025	96.1	14 of 694	98.0%	★★★★★
2024	97.3	7 of 684	99.0%	★★★★★
2023	98.1	3 of 642	99.5%	★★★★★
2022	97.5	6 of 595	99.0%	★★★★★
2021	97.9	4 of 351	98.9%	★★★★★
2019	96.7	9 of 758	98.8%	★★★★★
2018	93.6	23 of 690	96.7%	★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	80.1	8 of 120	93.3%	★★★★★
2025	77.8	6 of 119	95.0%	★★★★★
2023	77.4	12 of 82	85.4%	★★★★☆
2022	80.3	2 of 22	90.9%	★★★★★
2019	70.9	24 of 110	78.2%	★★★★☆
2018	69.0	27 of 84	67.9%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	97.6	7 of 694	99.0%	★★★★★
2025	98.1	6 of 700	99.1%	★★★★★
2024	96.4	10 of 683	98.5%	★★★★★
2023	98.2	3 of 649	99.5%	★★★★★
2022	96.6	12 of 594	98.0%	★★★★★
2021	96.9	8 of 352	97.7%	★★★★★
2019	98.1	9 of 764	98.8%	★★★★★
2018	93.9	25 of 693	96.4%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	94.8	12 of 546	97.8%	★★★★★
2025	95.9	7 of 551	98.7%	★★★★★
2024	96.3	9 of 539	98.3%	★★★★★
2023	97.0	6 of 525	98.9%	★★★★★
2022	95.2	10 of 454	97.8%	★★★★★
2021	96.9	5 of 288	98.3%	★★★★★
2019	96.8	6 of 596	99.0%	★★★★★
2018	87.7	32 of 337	90.5%	★★★★★

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)

Male (2026)99th percentile~ school

White (2026)98th percentile~ school

Female (2026)98th percentile~ school

Gifted and Talented (2026)93rd percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs Colorado (2025-2026) ?

Science88%+52 vs state

English Language Arts87%+42 vs state

Math82%+45 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, May 16, 2017

We love Zach Elementary! The teachers and staff in every grade are fantastic. Love that we can ride our bikes or walk to Zach and all 3 surrounding neighborhood schools. Can't do that in a lot of places. By far a great experience and would not hesitate to send anyone I know there. Close Quote

Schools Near Zach Elementary 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 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 All Grades	CMAS Math 3rd Grade	CMAS Math 4th Grade	CMAS Math 5th Grade	CMAS Math All Grades	CMAS Science 5th Grade	Total
Zach Elementary School	Public	K-5	3715 Kechter Road	Fort Collins	80528	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	No	(970) 488-5100	492	30	16.5	15.9%	304 (61.8%)	10 (2.0%)	70 (14.2%)	58 (11.8%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	48 (9.8%)	97.8	11^th of 943 public elementary schools	98.8%		98.5	7^th of 950 public elementary schools	99.3%	4	71.4	90.5	94.4	87.0	71.9	82.1	88.8	81.9	88.5	$18,080
Traut Core Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2515 Timberwood Drive	Fort Collins	80528	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	No	(970) 488-7500	484	27	17.7	17.4%	308 (63.6%)	3 (0.6%)	50 (10.3%)	90 (18.6%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	30 (6.2%)	94.6	31^st of 943 public elementary schools	96.7%		95.1	29^th of 950 public elementary schools	96.9%	2	76.1	75.0	87.7	79.6	81.9	66.7	74.0	74.2	64.4	$17,001
Bacon Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5844 South Timberline Road	Fort Collins	80528	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	No	(970) 488-5300	397	31	12.8	27.0%	300 (75.6%)	2 (0.5%)	57 (14.4%)	17 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	20 (5.0%)	84.3	139^th of 943 public elementary schools	85.3%		84.4	126^th of 950 public elementary schools	86.7%	13	57.1	60.6	65.7	61.3	66.1	64.1	67.6	66.0	58.0	$21,467
Timnath Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3909 Main Street	Timnath	80547	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	No	(970) 488-6825	455	29	15.4	30.8%	285 (62.6%)	7 (1.5%)	122 (26.8%)	10 (2.2%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (5.9%)	68.1	281^st of 943 public elementary schools	70.2%		76.6	214^th of 950 public elementary schools	77.5%	67	51.6	65.9	57.3	58.8	43.8	48.2	50.0	47.5	44.0	$17,602
Linton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4100 Caribou Drive	Fort Collins	80525	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 488-5850	307	26	11.6	67.4%	124 (40.4%)	1 (0.3%)	161 (52.4%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.2%)	25.7	672^nd of 943 public elementary schools	28.7%		22.4	702^nd of 950 public elementary schools	26.1%	30	40.0	28.0	34.0	33.1	36.7	20.0	25.0	25.8	23.4	$21,151
Kruse Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4400 McMurry Avenue	Fort Collins	80525	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	No	(970) 488-5625	406	29	14.2	38.9%	266 (65.5%)	5 (1.2%)	101 (24.9%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	29 (7.1%)	86.1	114^th of 943 public elementary schools	87.9%		88.5	90^th of 950 public elementary schools	90.5%	24	61.9	67.3	73.1	67.6	54.0	74.0	72.1	66.3	54.4	$18,522
Academy of Arts and Knowledge Elementary	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	4800 Wheaton Dr	Fort Collins	80525	Larimer County	State Charter School Institute	Yes	No	No	Yes	(970) 226-2800	240	18	13.7	47.5%	159 (66.3%)	6 (2.5%)	51 (21.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (9.6%)	26.2	665^th of 943 public elementary schools	29.5%		38.4	541^st of 950 public elementary schools	43.1%	124	21.6	29.4	34.3	28.3	35.1	14.7	29.4	26.7	34.3	$11,858
Bethke Elementary School	Public	K-5	5100 School House Drive	Timnath	80547	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	No	(970) 488-4300	512	33	15.6	8.0%	418 (81.6%)	2 (0.4%)	51 (10.0%)	15 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (5.1%)	92.8	43^rd of 943 public elementary schools	95.4%		92.9	45^th of 950 public elementary schools	95.3%	2	72.7	82.5	73.7	76.0	66.7	75.9	69.1	70.4	64.2	$17,529
Werner Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5400 Mail Creek Lane	Fort Collins	80525	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	No	(970) 488-5550	374	24	15.7	22.7%	295 (78.9%)	1 (0.3%)	43 (11.5%)	12 (3.2%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	20 (5.3%)	88	94^th of 943 public elementary schools	90.0%		87.6	106^th of 950 public elementary schools	88.8%	12	58.9	65.4	75.0	65.7	71.4	68.4	63.6	68.2	60.5	$28,019
Shepardson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1501 Springwood Drive	Fort Collins	80525	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	No	(970) 488-4525	414	30	13.9	24.2%	339 (81.9%)	3 (0.7%)	39 (9.4%)	11 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.3%)	78	191^st of 943 public elementary schools	79.7%		89.5	78^th of 950 public elementary schools	91.8%	113	50.9	70.6	70.3	64.6	56.1	61.8	49.2	55.8	47.0	$20,118

Frequently Asked Questions about Zach Elementary School

How many students attend Zach Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 492 students attended Zach Elementary School.

Is Zach Elementary School a good school?

Yes! Zach Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 11^th of 943 Colorado elementary schools.

What district is Zach Elementary School in?

Poudre School District R-1

What is the racial makeup of Zach Elementary School?

Students at Zach Elementary School are 62% White, 14% Hispanic, 12% Asian, 10% Two or more races, 2% African American.

What schools do graduates of Zach Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Zach Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Preston Middle School
High : Fossil Ridge High School

Rate Zach Elementary School!

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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.