Monterey Elementary School

Monterey Elementary School is a PK–5 school in Colorado Springs, CO, serving 272 students in the Harrison School District No. 2, a district that faces significant economic challenges. The school has climbed from being one of the lowest-performing elementary schools in the state to a solidly mid-tier performer, now ranking 635th out of 943 Colorado elementary schools with a 2-star rating—a steady upward trajectory from the bottom 10th–13th percentile in the late 2010s.

Monterey’s standout strength is science: 5th-grade proficiency reached 36.7% in 2025–2026, essentially matching the state average (36.1%) and far exceeding the district average (22.0%). Nearby schools like Soaring Eagles Community School, Carmel Community School, and Centennial Elementary School trail well behind, with most neighboring schools in the 9–14% range. Math is also a strong point: all-grades proficiency is 31.4% versus the district’s 24.8%, and 5th-grade math hits 41.9%—above the state average of 39.3% and nearly double the district’s rate. Only Soaring Eagles (37.2%) and Turman Elementary School (35.4%) outperform Monterey in overall math among nearby schools.

English language arts remains the school’s biggest challenge, with 27.5% proficiency in 2025–2026, below the district (32.8%) and state (44.7%). Still, this is not the lowest among neighbors—Adams Elementary School, Carmel, Centennial, and others score lower. One particularly bright spot is attendance: Monterey’s chronic absenteeism rate is 30.0%, better than the district (33.1%) and far better than nearby Adams (60.2%), Carmel (50.9%), or Centennial (48.8%). The school also shows notable effectiveness with Hispanic and male students, who rank in the 71st and 58th percentiles statewide, respectively—a dramatic improvement from a decade ago. If Monterey can translate its science and math momentum into literacy gains, this high-poverty school could become a top-tier performer despite its demographic odds.