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Peak Expeditionary - Pennington

Q: Is Peak Expeditionary - Pennington a good school?

Peak Expeditionary - Pennington ranks 332 nd of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

332^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 946 Colorado Elementary Schools

Better than 65% of Colorado elementary schools

Summary

Peak Expeditionary - Pennington is an elementary school in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, serving 316 students in grades PK through 5 within the Jefferson County School District No. R-1. The school has posted one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the area, climbing from near the bottom of the state a decade ago (2nd percentile) to the 65th percentile in the most recent ranking — a 3-star rating and 332nd out of 943 Colorado elementary schools.

Academically, Peak outperforms both district and state averages in English Language Arts and math on the CMAS assessments, with 54.5% of students proficient in ELA and 47.7% proficient in math. Third-grade scores are particularly strong, with 61.2% proficiency in both subjects. However, science is a clear weakness: only 36% of 5th graders are proficient, trailing the district's 46.2% and well below several nearby schools like Vanderhoof Elementary School and Slater Elementary School, which post science scores of 47–52%. Families should also be aware of a dip in 4th-grade scores before a partial rebound in 5th grade.

Peak's chronic absenteeism rate of 23.0% is better than the district (26.6%) and state (28.4%) averages, and improved significantly from 27.6% the prior year. Its student-teacher ratio of 17.6 is higher than most nearby elementary schools, yet the school still achieves above-average outcomes — an encouraging sign for instructional effectiveness. Compared with immediate neighbors like Compass Montessori - Wheat Ridge Charter School and Mountain Phoenix Community School, which rank lower despite smaller class sizes, Peak stands out as a strong mid-tier option. With its expeditionary learning model, moderate economic diversity (40.5% free/reduced lunch), and steady improvement for low-income students, this is a school on a clear upward trajectory.

316

Students ?

17.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,192

Per pupil spending ?

40.5%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Colorado receive free school meals.

93.9%

Kindergartners fully immunized against measles (MMR) (2025-26)

Exemptions: 6.1% (MMR)

4645 Independence Street
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033-2952

(303) 982-2083

District: Jefferson County School District No. R-1

Students who attend Peak Expeditionary - Pennington usually attend:

Middle:	Everitt Middle School
High:	Wheat Ridge High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

58.2%

Hispanic:

33.5%

Two or more races:

6.6%

See top rated Colorado elementary schools

Compare Peak Expeditionary - Pennington to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 2nd percentile in 2014 → 65th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Colorado average (49% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 63 percentile points since 2014

✓Above the Colorado median (65th percentile)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school49%

District avg49%

Colorado avg41%

332^nd of 946

Colorado public elementary schools ?

Top 35%▲ up 46 pts since 2017

From bottom 19% (2017) to top 35% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

45^th of 84Elementary Schools in the Jefferson County School District No. R-1

24^th of 114Jefferson County School District No. 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	62.4	332 of 946	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	60.1	358 of 950	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.0	296 of 943	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.6	415 of 933	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.9	278 of 921	69.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	36.6	471 of 710	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.9	596 of 965	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	18.7	755 of 929	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	16.8	798 of 938	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	5.4	947 of 962	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	5.0	927 of 954	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	18.1	781 of 935	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	12.4	825 of 935	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	17.5	780 of 925	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	12.3	779 of 872	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	9.3	777 of 849	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	15.7	737 of 852	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	27.3	640 of 829	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	32.7	594 of 823	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	40.8	517 of 808	36.0%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	50.4	328 of 695	52.8%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	49.6	145 of 322	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	37.9	209 of 337	38.0%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	57.9	278 of 697	60.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	57.2	239 of 547	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.9	222 of 551	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.6	218 of 539	59.6%	★★★☆☆

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)60th percentile-5 vs school

White (2026)56th percentile-9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)55th percentile-10 vs school

Female (2026)53rd percentile-12 vs school

By subject vs Colorado (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts55%+10 vs state

Math48%+10 vs state

Science36%~ state avg

4.3

6 ratings · 5 written reviews

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, February 11, 2021

A focus on experiences that go along with classroom learning means kids are retaining more of what they learn and learn to use it in the real world. The teachers are all so happy and have an amazing school culture which I personally believe leads to a healthy school environment. Any issue I have ever had was met with answered phone calls, returned emails and in person conversations within 24 hours not just from teachers but from the assistant principal and principal himself. They are the only school in the state with a bike park on school grounds and a focus on spending as much time as possible learning outside on their large piece of property. We care very much about a diverse environment and their commitment to keeping the school a diverse environment is a huge draw for us. Lastly their constant focus on social emotional development brings me so much hope for this generation of kids. With widespread anxiety, depression and disconnection on the rise for kids I fully believe a focus in empathy and respect is vital learning. Peak does such a wonderful job focusing on these areas. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, February 5, 2021

Note: This school was reorganized in 2018 and moved forward as Peak Expeditionary, reviews from Pennington are no longer accurate or valid.
We looked at several schools before choosing Peak Expeditionary for our daughter to start Kindergarten. We were looking for a school that focused on allowing kids to explore, have choices, and had a blend of academics and experiences. We put in for Peak and when we were accepted, we jumped at the chance. Our experience has been amazing so far. The way the whole staff has welcomed our daughter, but also the whole family has been appreciated. They have handled the pandemic with grace and I have been so pleased with both the in-person learning and the remote options. Our kiddo is outside for several hours during the day and was even able to go on a field trip this year. Her teachers are always welcoming and make her feel valued at school. Communication from the principal, her classroom teacher, the para support, the front office, the clinic aide - all have been pleasent, responsive, and kind. We are so excited to be a part of the CREW at Peak! We hope to see this school grow and become a K-8!!! Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, February 5, 2021

We started out my daughter’s kindergarten year in the middle of a pandemic. I could not be prouder of how Peak handled the challenge of teaching young kiddos in a remote environment, and the thought they put into in-person learning to keep it safe for everyone was beyond my expectations. They push my daughter to excel in everything she does, including developing her character and building her confidence. Even online, they maintained an interactive curriculum that encouraged discovery and exploration. The balance between digital work and hands-on work was perfectly balanced, as is their emphasis on outdoor education and activities.

I knew I was going to like Peak when I registered my daughter a year ago I didn’t know I was going to love it. Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Peak Expeditionary School is new as of 2018 and comments from Pennington do not apply! This school is amazing! Colorado to the core, adventure trips, field experiences and a staff that truly loves all kids. We couldn’t be happier at Peak! Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, November 30, 2017

School has gone downhill and lost more students each year my daughter went there(3yrs). Many behavioral issues with students which disrupts teaching on a several times daily basis. My daughter transferred to another Jeff Co. School this year and was found to be behind in almost every subject, Pennington grades were good but as a whole the teaching was behind where grade level should be at that point in the school year which is concerning since my daughter is struggling to catch up in new school so she can be at the level they are currently teaching . Staff at Pennington gets smaller every year and overall participation w/ community and family has gone downhill as well. Front office staff has changed and definitely not for the better, not very helpful most of the time and one person consistently very rude no matter what the interaction. I strongly advise checking out alternatives before sending your child to Pennington, it will not be in their best interest. Close Quote

Schools Near Peak Expeditionary - Pennington

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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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CMAS English Language Arts (2026)							CMAS Math (2026)							CMAS Science (2026)		Vaccination (2025-26)		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	Vaccination: Kindergartners fully immunized against measles (MMR)	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Total
Peak Expeditionary - Pennington	Public	PK, KG-5	4645 Independence Street	Wheat Ridge	80033	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	Yes	(303) 982-2083	316	18	17.6	40.5%	184 (58.2%)	4 (1.3%)	106 (33.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (6.6%)	62.4	332^nd of 946 public elementary schools	64.9%		60.1	358^th of 950 public elementary schools	62.3%	26	61.2	44.4	58.8				54.5	61.2	45.3	37.3				47.7	36.0		93.9%	6.1%	$17,192
Compass Montessori - Wheat Ridge Charter School	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	10399 West 44th Avenue	Wheat Ridge	80033	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	Yes	No	No	No	(303) 420-8288	288	17	17.3	—	234 (81.3%)	3 (1.0%)	23 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (9.7%)	35.7	567^th of 946 public elementary schools	40.1%		39	538^th of 950 public elementary schools	43.4%	29	29.0	35.7	52.0	27.8			36.3	22.6	32.1	734.0	725.0			24.3	44.0		97.1%	2.9%	$12,719
Mountain Phoenix Community School	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	4725 Miller Street	Wheat Ridge	80033	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	Yes	No	No	No	(303) 728-9100	533	43	12.5	27.8%	407 (76.4%)	1 (0.2%)	85 (15.9%)	4 (0.8%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (6.2%)	32.1	597^th of 946 public elementary schools	36.9%		45.5	484^th of 950 public elementary schools	49.1%	113	19.3	44.9	45.8	40.4	59.5	60.0	42.9	7.1	14.3	35.4	25.5	33.3	56.7	26.1	39.6	40.0	72.6%	27.3%	$11,719
Prospect Valley Elementary School	Public	K-5	3400 Pierson Street	Wheat Ridge	80033	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	No	(303) 982-7535	583	33	17.8	29.3%	425 (72.9%)	4 (0.7%)	113 (19.4%)	8 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	30 (5.1%)	75.2	216^th of 946 public elementary schools	77.2%		72.3	254^th of 950 public elementary schools	73.3%	38	57.7	64.2	63.5				61.7	58.7	55.9	40.4				51.5	52.0		89.1%	0%	$17,919
Lawrence Elementary School	Public	K-5	5611 Zephyr Street	Arvada	80002	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	Yes	(303) 982-1825	412	26	15.7	73.8%	156 (37.9%)	9 (2.2%)	214 (51.9%)	2 (0.5%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.6%)	31.2	608^th of 946 public elementary schools	35.7%		35	572^nd of 950 public elementary schools	39.8%	36	28.8	40.3	45.6				37.2	28.8	33.9	29.8				30.7	19.3		88.9%	11.1%	$18,075
Stevens Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4001 Reed Street	Wheat Ridge	80033	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	Yes	(303) 982-2198	469	36	13.0	65.9%	216 (46.1%)	10 (2.1%)	223 (47.5%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	15 (3.2%)	24.5	685^th of 946 public elementary schools	27.6%		16.7	784^th of 950 public elementary schools	17.5%	99	22.5	34.3	45.3				33.7	16.9	19.7	20.3				18.9	33.3		88.3%	0%	$18,474
Foster Dual Language Pk-8	Public	PK, KG-8	5300 Saulsbury Court	Arvada	80002	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	Yes	(303) 982-1680	454	28	15.9	50.2%	86 (18.9%)	0 (0.0%)	345 (76.0%)	6 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.7%)	30.5	616^th of 946 public elementary schools	34.9%		32.7	590^th of 950 public elementary schools	37.9%	26	43.6	57.1	29.8	28.9	31.3	30.4	35.8	23.1	34.0	27.7	15.2	20.8	17.8	23.3	19.1	26.1	98.1%	0%	$18,040
Vanderhoof Elementary School	Public	K-5	5875 Routt Court	Arvada	80004	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	No	(303) 982-2744	403	29	14.0	36.7%	258 (64.0%)	6 (1.5%)	89 (22.1%)	21 (5.2%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (6.2%)	71.7	248^th of 946 public elementary schools	73.8%		58.6	375^th of 950 public elementary schools	60.5%	127	54.7	62.0	57.1				57.9	47.2	54.9	52.6				51.6	47.3		86%	4.7%	$18,147
Slater Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8605 West 23rd Avenue	Lakewood	80215	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	Yes	(303) 982-7575	280	22	12.8	72.5%	79 (28.2%)	10 (3.6%)	172 (61.4%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.1%)	27.9	646^th of 946 public elementary schools	31.7%		14.2	817^th of 950 public elementary schools	14.0%	171	33.3	33.3	37.5				34.6	33.3	36.7	12.5				28.4	16.7		94.3%	2.9%	$19,983
Stober Elementary School	Public	K-5	2300 Urban Street	Lakewood	80215	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	No	(303) 982-7610	348	22	15.8	27.6%	242 (69.5%)	2 (0.6%)	79 (22.7%)	7 (2.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.6%)	73	229^th of 946 public elementary schools	75.8%		68.4	283^rd of 950 public elementary schools	70.2%	54	51.2	65.6	63.8				61.3	53.7	48.3	45.8				48.8	52.5		89.2%	1.5%	$18,053

Frequently Asked Questions about Peak Expeditionary - Pennington

Is Peak Expeditionary - Pennington a good school?

Peak Expeditionary - Pennington ranks 332^nd of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Peak Expeditionary - Pennington attend?

Students who attend Peak Expeditionary - Pennington usually go on to attend:

Middle : Everitt Middle School
High : Wheat Ridge High School

What district is Peak Expeditionary - Pennington in?

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

What is the racial makeup of Peak Expeditionary - Pennington?

Students at Peak Expeditionary - Pennington are 58% White, 34% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 1% African American.

How many students attend Peak Expeditionary - Pennington?

In the 2024-25 school year, 316 students attended Peak Expeditionary - Pennington.

Rate Peak Expeditionary - Pennington!

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Latest Colorado data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2025–26 attendance dataOct 6, 2026

2025–26 CMAS, PSAT10, PSAT9 & SAT test scoresAug 19, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJun 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.