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Shaffer Elementary School

Q: Is Shaffer Elementary School a good school?

Shaffer Elementary School ranks 133 rd of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

133^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 946 Colorado Elementary Schools

Better than 86% of Colorado elementary schools

Summary

Shaffer Elementary School in Littleton, CO, serves about 497 students in grades PK–5 and is part of Jefferson County School District R-1, consistently ranking among the top 15% of elementary schools in Colorado. The school earned a 4-star rating and placed 133rd out of 943 Colorado elementary schools in 2025–2026 (86th percentile), with several 5-star years over the past decade. Academically, Shaffer is strong across the board: 66.5% of students were proficient in ELA, 61.2% in math, and 57.1% in 5th-grade science—well above district and state averages. Math is the real standout, with proficiency nearly double the state average (37.3%) and outpacing nearby schools like Montessori Peaks Charter Academy and Powderhorn Elementary by a wide margin.

Shaffer’s consistency is one of its most notable features. Proficiency rates barely vary across grade levels, which points to a coherent school-wide instructional program rather than a few exceptional teachers. Attendance is another major plus: only 5.2% of students are chronically absent, compared with 26.6% for the district and 28.4% for the state. The school also serves a relatively low-poverty population (13.7% free/reduced lunch), and its low-income students perform well statewide. Comparisons with nearby schools are interesting: Bradford K8 South ranks slightly higher (96th percentile) and Ute Meadows Elementary School is close behind (90th percentile), while Mortensen Elementary School, just 0.33 miles away, has a 64th-percentile ranking, 36.9% poverty, and 16.7% chronic absenteeism.

One interesting pattern: Shaffer’s White student subgroup ranked at the 64th percentile in 2025–2026—below the school’s overall 86th-percentile ranking—while girls ranked 88th percentile and boys 76th, a reversal from earlier years. A possible area to monitor is gifted-student performance, which historically has ranked lower than the rest of the school’s results. Overall, Shaffer is a stable, high-achieving elementary school with an especially strong math program, excellent attendance, and consistent results across grades and subgroups. For parents, it’s an excellent neighborhood choice, with Bradford K8 South and Ute Meadows the main local peers to compare.

497

Students ?

17.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,402

Per pupil spending ?

13.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

7961 S Sangre De Cristo Road
Littleton, CO 80127-3901

(303) 982-3901

District: Jefferson County School District No. R-1

Students who attend Shaffer Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Falcon Bluffs Middle School
High:	Chatfield High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

79.9%

Hispanic:

13.7%

Two or more races:

4.4%

See top rated Colorado elementary schools

Compare Shaffer Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 92nd percentile in 2016 → 86th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Colorado average (63% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 14% of Colorado elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 6 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school63%

District avg49%

Colorado avg41%

133^rd of 946

Colorado public elementary schools ?

Top 14%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From top 8% (2016) to top 14% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

22^nd 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	85.1	133 of 946	85.9%	★★★★☆
2025	79.8	174 of 950	81.7%	★★★★☆
2024	84.4	128 of 943	86.4%	★★★★☆
2023	87.2	97 of 933	89.6%	★★★★☆
2022	82.5	141 of 921	84.7%	★★★★☆
2021	90.3	62 of 710	91.3%	★★★★★
2019	89.7	79 of 965	91.8%	★★★★★
2018	86.9	98 of 917	89.3%	★★★★☆
2017	86.9	93 of 929	90.0%	★★★★★
2016	88.4	77 of 914	91.6%	★★★★★
2015	87.8	89 of 938	90.5%	★★★★★
2014	86.2	98 of 962	89.8%	★★★★☆
2013	87.8	78 of 954	91.8%	★★★★★
2012	86.1	101 of 935	89.2%	★★★★☆
2011	85.1	113 of 935	87.9%	★★★★☆
2010	84.9	104 of 925	88.8%	★★★★☆
2009	85.6	87 of 872	90.0%	★★★★★
2008	89.4	47 of 849	94.5%	★★★★★
2007	88.9	50 of 852	94.1%	★★★★★
2006	87.2	68 of 829	91.8%	★★★★★
2005	87.3	68 of 823	91.7%	★★★★★
2004	79.6	149 of 808	81.6%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	82.8	87 of 695	87.5%	★★★★☆
2025	65.5	206 of 694	70.3%	★★★★☆
2024	68.4	195 of 684	71.5%	★★★★☆
2023	69.5	177 of 642	72.4%	★★★★☆
2022	76.5	114 of 595	80.8%	★★★★☆
2021	81.9	64 of 351	81.8%	★★★★☆
2019	83.5	91 of 758	88.0%	★★★★☆
2018	82.1	89 of 690	87.1%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2019	44.3	79 of 110	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	28.6	77 of 84	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2024	73.6	57 of 365	84.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	73.5	169 of 697	75.8%	★★★★☆
2025	78.0	131 of 700	81.3%	★★★★☆
2024	83.6	89 of 683	87.0%	★★★★☆
2023	87.2	65 of 649	90.0%	★★★★★
2022	74.7	133 of 594	77.6%	★★★★☆
2021	87.2	46 of 352	86.9%	★★★★☆
2019	87.4	68 of 764	91.1%	★★★★★
2018	81.3	106 of 693	84.7%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	63.3	198 of 547	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.1	229 of 551	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.5	170 of 539	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	71.4	129 of 525	75.4%	★★★★☆
2022	65.2	158 of 454	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	75.3	114 of 596	80.9%	★★★★☆

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)

Female (2026)87th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)84th percentile~ school

Male (2026)76th percentile-10 vs school

White (2026)64th percentile-22 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2019)28th percentile-64 vs school

By subject vs Colorado (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts66%+22 vs state

Math61%+24 vs state

Science57%+21 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, February 5, 2014

We are very pleased with Shaffer Elementary. Our kids have been going through the grades there for years and we are nearly done. I'm sad to part ways soon. The teachers and administration have always been quick to address any concerns we have.

I like how Shaffer pulls from a variety of neighborhoods in the area, which gives kids experience in dealing with people who aren't exactly like them.

Parent involvement and volunteering is amazing. A real team effort between the parents and teachers. Keep up the great work! Close Quote

Schools Near Shaffer 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 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
Shaffer Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7961 S Sangre De Cristo Road	Littleton	80127	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	No	(303) 982-3901	497	28	17.6	13.7%	397 (79.9%)	1 (0.2%)	68 (13.7%)	9 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.4%)	85.1	133^rd of 946 public elementary schools	85.9%		79.8	174^th of 950 public elementary schools	81.7%	41	65.8	67.4	66.2				66.5	61.5	61.1	61.0				61.2	57.1		$16,402
Mortensen Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8006 South Iris	Littleton	80128	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	No	(303) 982-0022	260	18	14.1	36.9%	175 (67.3%)	6 (2.3%)	58 (22.3%)	4 (1.5%)	2 (0.8%)	1 (0.4%)	14 (5.4%)	62	336^th of 946 public elementary schools	64.5%		53.3	424^th of 950 public elementary schools	55.4%	88	35.3	65.2	58.3				53.8	31.4	55.3	40.0				43.9	52.0		$19,407
Ute Meadows Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	11050 West Meadows Drive	Littleton	80127	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	No	(303) 982-4044	374	24	15.5	17.6%	271 (72.5%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (16.6%)	9 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	31 (8.3%)	87.7	100^th of 946 public elementary schools	89.4%		87.7	104^th of 950 public elementary schools	89.1%	4	53.3	89.2	77.4				73.8	47.5	76.6	71.0				65.4	69.4		$17,673
Coronado Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7922 South Carr	Littleton	80128	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	No	(303) 982-3737	384	24	16.1	21.6%	287 (74.7%)	2 (0.5%)	60 (15.6%)	8 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	26 (6.8%)	78.7	186^th of 946 public elementary schools	80.3%		78.9	191^st of 950 public elementary schools	79.9%	5	47.6	61.3	78.9				63.3	64.1	46.8	58.6				56.6	53.5		$17,414
Stony Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7203 South Everett	Littleton	80128	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	No	(303) 982-4120	349	22	15.9	30.4%	252 (72.2%)	0 (0.0%)	68 (19.5%)	10 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.4%)	72.5	237^th of 946 public elementary schools	74.9%		78.8	192^nd of 950 public elementary schools	79.8%	45	50.0	66.1	61.7				59.9	54.3	50.8	48.9				51.3	45.7		$17,103
Dutch Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7304 West Roxbury Place	Littleton	80128	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	No	(303) 982-4565	286	19	14.7	35.0%	207 (72.4%)	2 (0.7%)	64 (22.4%)	3 (1.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.1%)	75.1	217^th of 946 public elementary schools	77.1%		53.4	421^st of 950 public elementary schools	55.7%	204	60.0	58.1	67.5				61.9	51.4	51.2	55.0				52.5	47.5		$17,569
Montessori Peaks Charter Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	9904 West Capri Avenue	Littleton	80123	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	Yes	No	No	No	(303) 972-2627	444	28	15.6	16.7%	319 (71.8%)	0 (0.0%)	76 (17.1%)	9 (2.0%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (8.3%)	54.5	404^th of 946 public elementary schools	57.3%		65.8	310^th of 950 public elementary schools	67.4%	94	43.6	58.1	68.8	64.5	769.0		58.9	29.1	23.3	39.1	732.0	42.1		31.7	39.6		$11,485
Powderhorn Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	12109 West Coal Mine Avenue	Littleton	80127	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	No	(303) 982-0074	522	32	16.0	25.7%	368 (70.5%)	5 (1.0%)	113 (21.6%)	12 (2.3%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.0%)	51.9	420^th of 946 public elementary schools	55.6%		38.8	539^th of 950 public elementary schools	43.3%	119	46.9	42.2	56.8				48.4	41.3	25.3	37.0				34.1	54.4		$17,072
Bradford K8 South	Public	K-4	1 White Oak Drive	Littleton	80127	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	No	(303) 982-3480	371	21	18.0	4.0%	313 (84.4%)	1 (0.3%)	27 (7.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (7.5%)	93.6	38^th of 946 public elementary schools	96.0%		88	100^th of 950 public elementary schools	89.5%	62	73.3	82.4					77.6	65.3	73.1					69.0			$16,854
Columbine Hills Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6005 West Canyon Avenue	Littleton	80128	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	No	(303) 982-5540	315	20	15.4	33.7%	222 (70.5%)	3 (1.0%)	49 (15.6%)	5 (1.6%)	7 (2.2%)	1 (0.3%)	28 (8.9%)	43.6	488^th of 946 public elementary schools	48.4%		48.3	457^th of 950 public elementary schools	51.9%	31	38.9	41.0	47.6				42.7	36.1	35.9	40.5				37.6	31.0		$17,652

Frequently Asked Questions about Shaffer Elementary School

What district is Shaffer Elementary School in?

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

Is Shaffer Elementary School a good school?

Shaffer Elementary School ranks 133^rd of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Shaffer Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Falcon Bluffs Middle School
High : Chatfield High School

How many students attend Shaffer Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 497 students attended Shaffer Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Shaffer Elementary School?

Students at Shaffer Elementary School are 80% White, 14% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

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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.