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Rice Elementary School

Q: Is Rice Elementary School a good school?

Rice Elementary School ranks 359 th of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

359^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 946 Colorado Elementary Schools

Better than 62% of Colorado elementary schools

Summary

Rice Elementary School in Wellington, CO, serves 401 students in grades PK–5 and is part of Poudre School District R-1, a highly rated district in Colorado. The school has historically been a solid performer, earning 4-star ratings for many years, though it has recently settled into a 3-star rating with statewide percentiles in the 57–62 range.

Rice has some clear academic strengths and weaknesses. Math is a relative bright spot, with 49.2% of students proficient—well above the state average of 37.3%—and 3rd grade math (55.8%) actually surpassing both district and state averages. Reading performance is more uneven: only about 44% of 3rd and 4th graders are proficient, but 5th grade ELA jumps to 69.8%, exceeding both district and state averages. Science is the most significant concern, with just 28.8% of 5th graders proficient compared to the district average of 50.4%. This isn't a one-year blip—science proficiency has fallen steadily from 45.5% in 2022–2023. The school’s closest neighbor, Eyestone Elementary School, shows a complementary profile: Eyestone is stronger in science (46.7%) and slightly ahead in ELA, while Rice leads in math—suggesting the two Wellington schools could learn from each other.

There are encouraging signs as well. Chronic absenteeism improved dramatically, dropping from 38.0% to 26.4% in a single year—now better than both district and state averages. However, some nearby schools with similar poverty rates, such as Dunn Elementary School (65.4% ELA, 60% science) and Riffenburgh Elementary School (71.4% ELA, 51.6% science), post considerably higher scores despite comparable demographics. For parents, Rice offers solid math instruction and strong upper-grade reading, but the declining science scores and the gap between 3rd/4th and 5th grade reading are worth watching closely.

401

Students ?

14.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,631

Per pupil spending ?

31.7%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Colorado receive free school meals.

7000 Third Street
Wellington, CO 80549-2400

(970) 488-8700

District: Poudre School District R-1

Students who attend Rice Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Wellington Middle-High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

70.1%

Hispanic:

23.7%

Two or more races:

4.0%

See top rated Colorado elementary schools

Compare Rice Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 76th percentile in 2016 → 62nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Colorado average (48% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Above the Colorado median (62nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 14 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school48%

District avg56%

Colorado avg41%

359^th of 946

Colorado public elementary schools ?

Top 38%▼ down 14 pts since 2016

From top 24% (2016) to top 38% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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

12^th of 114Poudre 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	59.8	359 of 946	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	55.3	404 of 950	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.6	359 of 943	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.9	227 of 933	75.7%	★★★★☆
2022	73.7	224 of 921	75.7%	★★★★☆
2021	76.1	180 of 710	74.6%	★★★★☆
2019	77.3	185 of 965	80.8%	★★★★☆
2018	78.8	179 of 917	80.5%	★★★★☆
2017	77.0	192 of 929	79.3%	★★★★☆
2016	73.6	215 of 914	76.5%	★★★★☆
2015	72.0	225 of 938	76.0%	★★★★☆
2014	87.6	84 of 962	91.3%	★★★★★
2013	82.9	134 of 954	86.0%	★★★★☆
2012	69.1	303 of 935	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	68.6	302 of 935	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2010	71.9	255 of 925	72.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	44.8	363 of 695	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	36.9	423 of 694	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.7	355 of 684	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	58.1	250 of 642	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.3	222 of 595	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	74.3	100 of 351	71.5%	★★★★☆
2019	68.5	208 of 758	72.6%	★★★★☆
2018	79.0	106 of 690	84.6%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2023	76.0	13 of 82	84.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	46.2	173 of 337	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	66.2	93 of 365	74.5%	★★★★☆
2023	70.4	57 of 265	78.5%	★★★★☆
2022	89.4	7 of 203	96.6%	★★★★★
2019	65.7	78 of 332	76.5%	★★★★☆
2018	66.5	69 of 308	77.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	57.1	286 of 697	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	54.3	301 of 700	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.9	292 of 683	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.8	182 of 649	72.0%	★★★★☆
2022	69.9	170 of 594	71.4%	★★★★☆
2021	62.8	157 of 352	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	75.6	156 of 764	79.6%	★★★★☆
2018	65.3	197 of 693	71.6%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	39.9	343 of 547	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.9	379 of 551	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.1	379 of 539	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	45.5	289 of 525	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	53.0	216 of 454	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.6	149 of 596	75.0%	★★★★☆

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)

Gifted and Talented (2023)84th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2026)59th percentile-3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)49th percentile-9 vs school

Female (2026)48th percentile-14 vs school

White (2026)37th percentile-25 vs school

By subject vs Colorado (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts52%+7 vs state

Math49%+12 vs state

Science29%-7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Rice 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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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
Rice Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7000 Third Street	Wellington	80549	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	No	(970) 488-8700	401	28	14.3	31.7%	281 (70.1%)	2 (0.5%)	95 (23.7%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	16 (4.0%)	59.8	359^th of 946 public elementary schools	62.1%		55.3	404^th of 950 public elementary schools	57.5%	45	44.2	43.7	69.8				51.7	55.8	47.2	45.3				49.2	28.8		$18,631
Eyestone Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4000 Wilson Avenue	Wellington	80549	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	No	(970) 488-8600	619	44	14.1	36.2%	450 (72.7%)	2 (0.3%)	129 (20.8%)	5 (0.8%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (4.7%)	61.9	337^th of 946 public elementary schools	64.4%		60.6	353^rd of 950 public elementary schools	62.8%	16	51.4	52.0	60.5				54.7	41.9	46.1	38.7				42.2	46.7		$17,802
Tavelli Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1118 Miramount Drive	Fort Collins	80524	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	No	(970) 488-6725	519	30	17.3	35.8%	344 (66.3%)	1 (0.2%)	135 (26.0%)	5 (1.0%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (5.6%)	88.3	90^th of 946 public elementary schools	90.5%		83.3	136^th of 950 public elementary schools	85.7%	46	67.1	69.4	77.3				71.1	64.6	57.1	65.3				62.2	63.5		$18,085
Laurel Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1000 East Locust Street	Fort Collins	80524	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 488-5925	412	30	13.8	54.6%	227 (55.1%)	8 (1.9%)	145 (35.2%)	4 (1.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (6.3%)	53.5	408^th of 946 public elementary schools	56.9%		49.5	446^th of 950 public elementary schools	53.1%	38	37.7	50.0	61.2				49.5	40.6	33.3	35.8				36.6	49.3		$20,328
Putnam Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1400 Maple Street	Fort Collins	80521	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 488-7700	258	28	9.3	77.1%	99 (38.4%)	8 (3.1%)	131 (50.8%)	3 (1.2%)	7 (2.7%)	3 (1.2%)	7 (2.7%)	40.7	509^th of 946 public elementary schools	46.2%		61.1	349^th of 950 public elementary schools	63.3%	160	28.6	41.7	61.3				44.6	17.9	25.0	35.5				26.5	41.9		$23,337
Cache La Poudre Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3511 W Cr 54g	Laporte	80535	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	No	(970) 488-7600	281	19	14.9	49.8%	214 (76.2%)	1 (0.4%)	57 (20.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	7 (2.5%)	41.9	500^th of 946 public elementary schools	47.1%		45.6	483^rd of 950 public elementary schools	49.2%	17	26.1	55.8	50.0				44.1	26.1	57.7	16.7				35.8	19.4		$20,297
Mountain Sage Community School	Public, Charter	K-8	2310 East Prospect Road Suite	Fort Collins	80525	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	Yes	No	No	No	(970) 568-5456	265	17	15.9	26.0%	216 (81.5%)	1 (0.4%)	15 (5.7%)	8 (3.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (9.1%)	44.9	470^th of 946 public elementary schools	50.3%		58	380^th of 950 public elementary schools	60.0%	90	42.9	46.7	57.1		747.0	93.8	54.3	22.7	38.6	28.6		739.0	68.8	37.1	33.3	75.0	$13,906
Harris Bilingual Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	501 East Elizabeth	Fort Collins	80524	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 488-5200	311	22	13.8	61.1%	81 (26.0%)	0 (0.0%)	223 (71.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	62.4	333^rd of 946 public elementary schools	64.8%		55.6	402^nd of 950 public elementary schools	57.7%	69	67.7	41.7	50.0				51.2	47.1	37.3	52.0				45.4	56.0		$20,927
Dunn Elementary School	Public	K-5	501 South Washington	Fort Collins	80521	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	No	(970) 488-4825	392	27	14.4	30.6%	287 (73.2%)	18 (4.6%)	38 (9.7%)	27 (6.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.6%)	79.3	180^th of 946 public elementary schools	81.0%		85.4	122^nd of 950 public elementary schools	87.2%	58	63.1	65.6	67.8				65.4	52.3	50.0	53.3				51.9	60.0		$20,272
Irish Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	515 Irish Drive	Fort Collins	80521	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 488-6900	365	29	12.5	71.2%	101 (27.7%)	3 (0.8%)	247 (67.7%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.0%)	35.2	572^nd of 946 public elementary schools	39.5%		33.1	588^th of 950 public elementary schools	38.1%	16	25.0	51.2	35.8				38.3	28.9	42.0	31.5				34.5	22.0		$21,031

Frequently Asked Questions about Rice Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Rice Elementary School attend?

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

High : Wellington Middle-High School

How many students attend Rice Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 401 students attended Rice Elementary School.

What district is Rice Elementary School in?

Poudre School District R-1

Is Rice Elementary School a good school?

Rice Elementary School ranks 359^th of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Rice Elementary School?

Students at Rice Elementary School are 70% White, 24% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

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Latest Colorado data All new data »

2025–26 attendance dataNewOct 6, 2026

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

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.