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Otero Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

716^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 946 Colorado Elementary Schools

Better than 24% of Colorado elementary schools

Summary

Otero Elementary School is a PK-5 school serving 330 students in the Harrison School District No. 2 in southern Colorado Springs. About 73.3% of students now qualify for free/reduced-price lunch, a steep increase from 54.1% two years prior, and the school’s overall state ranking places it in the bottom quarter of Colorado elementary schools (24th percentile).

The most striking differentiator for Otero is its chronic absenteeism rate of 39.5%, the highest in the surrounding area and a likely driver of academic struggles. This far exceeds nearby Oak Creek Elementary School (34.3%) and contrasts sharply with Cheyenne Mountain Elementary School (8.0%). Academically, Otero is below district and state averages, but a grade-level anomaly stands out: 4th-grade math proficiency is 46.7%, nearly double the district average and above the state average, proving the school can produce high achievement. This is set against a very weak 3rd-grade math performance of just 5.4% proficient. The school also has a remarkably low student-to-teacher ratio of 10.8—the lowest among nearby elementary schools—yet it does not offset the impact of absenteeism and economic disadvantage.

There are signs of a modest rebound, with ELA proficiency ticking up from 25.4% to 28.1% and math from 17.6% to 20.1% over the past year. Science is a relative bright spot, as 5th-grade science proficiency reached 30.0%, above the district average of 29.8%. A significant gender gap exists, with female students performing near the state median while male students rank near the bottom, suggesting a need for targeted support for boys. While Otero faces clear challenges, its 4th-grade results and historical effectiveness with high-need students indicate that focused investments in attendance and early-grade math intervention could put the school on a stronger upward trajectory.

330

Students ?

10.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,115

Per pupil spending ?

73.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1650 Charmwood Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80906-7700

(719) 579-2110

District: Harrison School District No. 2

Students who attend Otero Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Fox Meadow Middle School
High:	Harrison High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

43.6%

White:

30.6%

African American:

12.1%

See top rated Colorado elementary schools

Compare Otero Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 46th percentile in 2016 → 24th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Colorado average (24% vs 41% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (24th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (40% vs 28% Colorado)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school24%

District avg28%

Colorado avg41%

716^th of 946

Colorado public elementary schools ?

Bottom 24%▼ down 22 pts since 2016

From bottom 46% (2016) to bottom 24% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

10^th of 16Elementary Schools in the Harrison School District No. 2

83^rd of 114Harrison School District No. 2 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	21.9	716 of 946	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.3	761 of 950	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.5	684 of 943	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.2	607 of 933	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.6	573 of 921	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	24.9	569 of 710	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	45.3	495 of 965	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.2	530 of 917	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	44.3	463 of 929	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	41.4	491 of 914	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	53.0	401 of 938	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2014	53.4	470 of 962	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	55.2	458 of 954	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	41.3	595 of 935	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	60.5	400 of 935	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2010	56.7	444 of 925	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2009	53.7	440 of 872	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2008	31.8	621 of 849	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	44.0	528 of 852	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	42.1	514 of 829	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2005	52.7	438 of 823	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2004	66.5	286 of 808	64.6%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	37.4	413 of 695	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	29.4	473 of 694	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	28.9	487 of 684	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	38.6	393 of 642	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.6	464 of 758	38.8%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	38.2	140 of 247	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	57.9	88 of 242	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	72.5	54 of 270	80.0%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2019	64.3	84 of 332	74.7%	★★★★☆
2018	55.1	118 of 308	61.7%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	13.9	615 of 697	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	11.4	625 of 700	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	13.5	606 of 683	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.6	502 of 649	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	44.6	390 of 764	49.0%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2019	31.4	420 of 596	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	28.2	251 of 337	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2019)75th percentile+26 vs school

Hispanic (2025)43rd percentile+23 vs school

Female (2026)41st percentile+16 vs school

White (2019)30th percentile-19 vs school

Male (2026)12th percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs Colorado (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts28%-17 vs state

Math20%-17 vs state

3.3

4 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★1

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Staff goes above and beyond to serve special needs and requirements of all students and teachers are welcoming and knowledgeable. This school has been a huge blessing to my two boys Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, February 7, 2020

I love Otero Elementary School!! The teachers and staff are the best! They care about the students and it shows!! Close Quote

by a parent
Saturday, August 20, 2011

There is a disconnect between the staff and parents. The office staff have an air of being bothered when you ask a question. The Principle and Vice Principle seem to think they are above just about everyone in the human race. They talk down to you. Treat you like you haven't a clue what is happening around you.
Teachers seem genuine enough, but it also seems like they have almost been placed there to follow the 'lead' of what they are told to do. Children who are perfect seem to be liked, and others who aren't perfect seem to be singled out. If your kid ever has a bad day, they won't let you forget it. Often talking about the habitual problem your child has after once incident....like where was this information when it first happened?
You might as well move your kid to a new school, they'll will be labelled, and you will never see a genuine look from the staff again. Close Quote

Schools Near Otero 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 6th 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 All Grades	CMAS Science 5th Grade	Total
Otero Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1650 Charmwood Drive	Colorado Springs	80906	El Paso County	Harrison School District No. 2	No	No	No	Yes	(719) 579-2110	330	30	10.8	73.3%	101 (30.6%)	40 (12.1%)	144 (43.6%)	12 (3.6%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.9%)	29 (8.8%)	21.9	716^th of 946 public elementary schools	24.3%		18.3	761^st of 950 public elementary schools	19.9%	45	16.7	37.8	31.9		28.1	5.4	46.7	12.5		20.1	701.0	$19,115
Pinon Valley Elementary School	Public	K-6	6205 Farthing Drive	Colorado Springs	80906	El Paso County	Cheyenne Mountain School District No. 12	No	No	No	No	(719) 527-0300	315	23	13.9	22.9%	198 (62.9%)	7 (2.2%)	69 (21.9%)	8 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	29 (9.2%)	85.1	132^nd of 946 public elementary schools	86.0%		82.4	148^th of 950 public elementary schools	84.4%	16	66.7	66.7	71.4	79.6	71.4	66.7	65.2	58.8	79.6	67.6	35.4	$14,258
Oak Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3333 Oak Creek Drive West	Colorado Springs	80906	El Paso County	Harrison School District No. 2	No	No	No	Yes	(719) 579-2175	235	19	12.3	74.9%	62 (26.4%)	18 (7.7%)	126 (53.6%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (11.5%)	25.9	672^nd of 946 public elementary schools	29.0%		26.3	654^th of 950 public elementary schools	31.2%	18	23.7	31.9	44.7		33.3	23.7	17.0	28.9		22.8	31.6	$19,002
Cheyenne Mountain Elementary School	Public	K-6	5250 Farthing Drive	Colorado Springs	80906	El Paso County	Cheyenne Mountain School District No. 12	No	No	No	No	(719) 576-3080	324	21	15.2	10.2%	236 (72.8%)	6 (1.9%)	35 (10.8%)	13 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (10.5%)	88.9	82^nd of 946 public elementary schools	91.3%		89.9	75^th of 950 public elementary schools	92.1%	7	60.0	54.0	76.5	64.7	64.0	68.9	66.0	82.4	64.7	70.6	76.5	$12,973
Abrams Elementary School	Public	K-5	600 Chiles Avenue	Fort Carson	80902	El Paso County	Fountain School District No. 8	No	No	No	Yes	(719) 382-1490	396	24	16.5	64.4%	147 (37.1%)	56 (14.1%)	131 (33.1%)	12 (3.0%)	5 (1.3%)	11 (2.8%)	34 (8.6%)	14.5	822^nd of 946 public elementary schools	13.1%		24.7	669^th of 950 public elementary schools	29.6%	153	20.0	24.1	19.4		21.5	726.0	20.0	723.0		18.8	20.6	$16,643
Mountainside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5506 Harr Avenue	Fort Carson	80902	El Paso County	Fountain School District No. 8	No	No	No	Yes	(719) 382-1430	346	24	14.4	44.2%	118 (34.1%)	55 (15.9%)	125 (36.1%)	6 (1.7%)	1 (0.3%)	7 (2.0%)	34 (9.8%)	16.8	794^th of 946 public elementary schools	16.1%		21.8	713^th of 950 public elementary schools	24.9%	81	10.3	38.1	28.2		25.8	23.1	725.0	718.0		15.8	12.8	$17,375
Broadmoor Elementary School	Public	K-6	440 W Cheyenne Mountain Blvd	Colorado Springs	80906	El Paso County	Cheyenne Mountain School District No. 12	No	No	No	No	(719) 475-6130	327	21	15.4	18.3%	237 (72.5%)	3 (0.9%)	47 (14.4%)	7 (2.1%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (9.5%)	87.4	104^th of 946 public elementary schools	89.0%		90.4	71^st of 950 public elementary schools	92.5%	33	58.7	76.9	68.0	84.8	72.2	63.0	76.9	54.0	77.1	67.9	48.0	$13,313
Weikel Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6565 Lindstrom Street	Colorado Springs	80902	El Paso County	Fountain School District No. 8	No	No	No	Yes	(719) 358-4320	814	43	19.0	32.3%	343 (42.1%)	69 (8.5%)	259 (31.8%)	21 (2.6%)	5 (0.6%)	29 (3.6%)	88 (10.8%)	32.7	593^rd of 946 public elementary schools	37.3%		38.3	543^rd of 950 public elementary schools	42.8%	50	42.7	39.5	35.5		39.4	36.0	28.4	23.7		29.7	19.7	$14,031
Stratton Meadows Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	610 Brookshire Avenue	Colorado Springs	80906	El Paso County	Harrison School District No. 2	No	No	No	Yes	(719) 579-2190	290	25	11.4	83.8%	53 (18.3%)	30 (10.3%)	180 (62.1%)	6 (2.1%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.6%)	7.6	915^th of 946 public elementary schools	3.3%		7.9	921^st of 950 public elementary schools	3.1%	6	699.0	17.0	724.0		14.7	15.6	709.0	716.0		9.3	7.9	$20,924
Patriot Elementary School	Public	K-5	7010 Harr Avenue	Fort Carson	80902	El Paso County	Fountain School District No. 8	No	No	No	Yes	(719) 382-1460	523	34	15.5	40.3%	240 (45.9%)	57 (10.9%)	147 (28.1%)	11 (2.1%)	6 (1.1%)	13 (2.5%)	49 (9.4%)	30.1	622^nd of 946 public elementary schools	34.2%		33.8	581^st of 950 public elementary schools	38.8%	41	28.8	48.8	35.9		38.2	28.2	17.7	31.3		25.2	26.6	$15,568

Frequently Asked Questions about Otero Elementary School

What district is Otero Elementary School in?

Harrison School District No. 2

How many students attend Otero Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 330 students attended Otero Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Otero Elementary School?

Students at Otero Elementary School are 44% Hispanic, 31% White, 12% African American, 9% Two or more races, 4% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Otero Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Fox Meadow Middle School
High : Harrison High School

Is Otero Elementary School a good school?

Otero Elementary School ranks in the bottom 24.3% of Colorado elementary schools.

Rate Otero 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.