Trailside Academy

Trailside Academy is a PK-8 school in Denver, Colorado, serving 492 students in the Mapleton School District No. 1, an area where the school stands out as a mid-tier performer that has shown meaningful improvement in recent years. The school earns 2 stars and ranks in the 32nd percentile statewide, a notable position given that its district ranks in the bottom 10% of Colorado districts. Trailside's English Language Arts proficiency has climbed from 17.9% in 2023-24 to 31.4% in 2025-26, and math has risen from 13.0% to 21.8% over the same period.

Trailside outperforms several nearby schools, including Fairview Pk-8, Colorado Sports Leadership Academy, Orchard Park Academy, and Tennyson Knolls Preparatory School, in both ELA and math. Its chronic absenteeism rate of 28.0% now matches the state average and is well below the district's 35.6%, an improvement that likely contributed to the academic gains. The school also serves a less economically disadvantaged population than most neighbors, with 58.3% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch, compared to schools like Orchard Park (89.1%) and Colorado Sports (90.4%).

However, there are clear areas of concern. Science proficiency is very low — just 8.6% of 5th graders met state standards in 2025-26, down sharply from 28.8% two years earlier. Early elementary results are also weak, with 3rd-grade ELA at 22.2% and math at 24.4%, far below state averages. Additionally, while Trailside outperforms its district, it is not the strongest school in its immediate area: Valley View Innovation School, just over a mile away, ranks in the 49th percentile and posts higher scores in nearly every subject, and Colorado STEM Academy, also nearby, posts ELA and math proficiency rates roughly double Trailside's. Economically disadvantaged students at Trailside rank in the 17th percentile statewide, suggesting that closing that gap should be a priority as the school continues to improve.