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Bessemer Elementary School

Q: Is Bessemer Elementary School a good school?

Bessemer Elementary School ranks 681 st of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

681^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 946 Colorado Elementary Schools

Better than 28% of Colorado elementary schools

Summary

Bessemer Elementary School is a PK–5 public school in Pueblo, CO, serving 248 students within Pueblo School District No. 60—a district that ranks in the bottom tier of Colorado schools. While Bessemer has historically ranked near the bottom of the state, the 2025–2026 school year brought its best performance in at least a decade, with the school climbing to the 28th percentile statewide, up from the 8th percentile the year before. This 20-point jump makes Bessemer one of the most improved schools in the area, especially when compared to nearby Park View Elementary School (10th percentile) and Pueblo Charter School for the Arts & Sciences (3rd percentile), which remain near the bottom.

Perhaps the most striking turnaround is in math. Bessemer's math proficiency has more than doubled in two years—from roughly 10% in 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 to 24.7% in 2025–2026—now surpassing the district average of 18.7% and outpacing several neighboring schools, including Park View (17.2%), Bradford Elementary School (20.7%), and Pueblo School for Arts & Sciences at Fulton Heights (6.4%). In English language arts, Bessemer's 23.3% proficiency remains below the district average of 27.2%, but it exceeds several peers, including Bradford (18.3%) and Fulton Heights (15.7%). The contrast with Minnequa Elementary School is striking: Minnequa serves a nearly identical share of low-income students (84.8% vs. Bessemer's 85.5%) yet posts dramatically higher proficiency rates (55% ELA, 53.5% math). Notably, Minnequa has a much lower chronic absenteeism rate (22.7% vs. Bessemer's 42.3%).

Bessemer's 3rd-grade scores are a genuine bright spot. Third-grade math proficiency (34.5%) and ELA proficiency (28.6%) both exceed district averages and many higher-ranked schools, suggesting recent gains are taking root in the early grades. The school's biggest challenge remains attendance: chronic absenteeism sits at 42.3%, well above the state average of 28.4%. Bessemer is not yet a top performer, but its math gains and early-grade strength point in the right direction—making it one of the more encouraging stories among its immediate peers in a historically low-performing district.

248

Students ?

14.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,986

Per pupil spending ?

85.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1125 E Routt Avenue
Pueblo, CO 81004-2906

(719) 549-7505

District: Pueblo School District No. 60

Students who attend Bessemer Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Central High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

66.9%

White:

23.8%

African American:

4.0%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 1st percentile in 2014 → 28th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 27 percentile points since 2014

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Colorado average (22% vs 41% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (42% vs 28% Colorado)

!Science scores 22 pts below the Colorado average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school22%

District avg23%

Colorado avg41%

681^st of 946

Colorado public elementary schools ?

Bottom 28%▲ up 24 pts since 2016

From bottom 4% (2016) to bottom 28% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^th of 19Elementary Schools in the Pueblo School District No. 60

101^st of 114Pueblo School District No. 60 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	24.8	681 of 946	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	10.7	875 of 950	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	16.2	788 of 933	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	12.3	845 of 921	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	16.4	815 of 965	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.2	747 of 917	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	10.3	878 of 929	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	9.2	877 of 914	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	12.7	852 of 938	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	4.6	951 of 962	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	9.1	881 of 954	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	8.5	873 of 935	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	7.8	874 of 935	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	9.0	851 of 925	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	29.7	662 of 872	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	28.2	651 of 849	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	46.0	504 of 852	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	51.7	448 of 829	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2005	46.3	486 of 823	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2004	28.4	610 of 808	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Colorado (2025-2026) ?

Math25%-13 vs state

English Language Arts23%-21 vs state

Science14%-22 vs state

★

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Schools Near Bessemer 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
Bessemer Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1125 E Routt Avenue	Pueblo	81004	Pueblo County	Pueblo School District No. 60	No	No	No	Yes	(719) 549-7505	248	17	14.6	85.5%	59 (23.8%)	10 (4.0%)	166 (66.9%)	2 (0.8%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.2%)	24.8	681^st of 946 public elementary schools	28.0%		10.7	875^th of 950 public elementary schools	7.9%	194	28.6	722.0	727.0				23.3	34.5	713.0	718.0				24.7	14.3		$18,986
Minnequa Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1708 East Orman Avenue	Pueblo	81004	Pueblo County	Pueblo School District No. 60	No	No	No	Yes	(719) 549-7580	277	22	12.8	84.8%	47 (17.0%)	9 (3.2%)	216 (78.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.4%)	70.2	264^th of 946 public elementary schools	72.1%		60.1	357^th of 950 public elementary schools	62.4%	93	58.6	48.6	58.8				55.0	62.1	44.7	55.9				53.5	720.0		$18,300
Columbian Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1202 Bragdon Avenue	Pueblo	81004	Pueblo County	Pueblo School District No. 60	No	No	No	Yes	(719) 549-7525	371	24	15.2	85.2%	93 (25.1%)	12 (3.2%)	256 (69.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.2%)	28.6	640^th of 946 public elementary schools	32.3%		26.8	649^th of 950 public elementary schools	31.7%	9	26.1	42.9	42.9				37.5	51.1	23.8	8.9				26.9	8.9		$16,966
Heritage Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	625 Brown Avenue	Pueblo	81004	Pueblo County	Pueblo School District No. 60	No	No	No	Yes	(719) 549-7575	250	16	15.3	83.6%	63 (25.2%)	4 (1.6%)	173 (69.2%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.8%)	2 (0.8%)	5 (2.0%)	37.3	550^th of 946 public elementary schools	41.9%		24.9	665^th of 950 public elementary schools	30.0%	115	37.5	52.0	38.5				42.2	31.3	48.0	19.2				32.5	19.2		$16,771
Pueblo Charter School for the Arts & Sciences	Public, Charter	K-8	1745 Acero	Pueblo	81004	Pueblo County	Pueblo School District No. 60	Yes	No	No	No	(719) 549-2737	444	28	15.7	84.2%	84 (18.9%)	10 (2.3%)	331 (74.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	17 (3.8%)								(n/a)	705.0	718.0	713.0	10.9	11.5	18.5	11.5	704.0	701.0	706.0	705.0	711.0	704.0	3.3	706.0	13.0	$11,668
Pueblo School for Arts & Sciences at Fulton Heights	Public, Charter	K-8	1331 Santa Rosa Street	Pueblo	81006	Pueblo County	Pueblo School District No. 60	Yes	No	No	No	(719) 404-2680	221	15	15.2	74.2%	58 (26.2%)	0 (0.0%)	159 (71.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.8%)	11.2	872^nd of 946 public elementary schools	7.8%		23.3	690^th of 950 public elementary schools	27.4%	182	712.0	20.0	10.3	26.1	715.0	19.2	15.7	715.0	707.0	702.0	13.0	714.0	704.0	6.4	10.3	15.4	$10,263
Bradford Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	107 South La Crosse Avenue	Pueblo	81001	Pueblo County	Pueblo School District No. 60	No	No	No	Yes	(719) 549-7515	252	19	13.2	89.3%	40 (15.9%)	6 (2.4%)	202 (80.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.6%)	19.4	748^th of 946 public elementary schools	20.9%					(n/a)	28.6	710.0	722.0				18.3	28.6	13.3	20.8				20.7	704.0		$20,022
Sunset Park Elementary School	Public	K-5	110 University Circle	Pueblo	81005	Pueblo County	Pueblo School District No. 60	No	No	No	No	(719) 549-7610	425	24	17.5	75.8%	138 (32.5%)	8 (1.9%)	261 (61.4%)	5 (1.2%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.6%)	39.2	522^nd of 946 public elementary schools	44.8%		31.2	602^nd of 950 public elementary schools	36.6%	80	30.0	42.9	53.7				40.5	30.0	26.8	30.9				29.3	45.5		$13,812
Fountain International Magnet School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-3	925 North Glendale Avenue	Pueblo	81001	Pueblo County	Pueblo School District No. 60	No	Yes	No	No	(719) 549-7535	276	17	16.4	54.7%	73 (26.4%)	7 (2.5%)	171 (62.0%)	11 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.1%)								(n/a)	41.5						41.5	36.9						36.9			$16,265
Riverstone Academy	Public	K-5	1950 Aspen Circle	Pueblo	81006	Pueblo County	Education Reenvisioned BOCES	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(719) 248-5037	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Bessemer Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Bessemer Elementary School?

Students at Bessemer Elementary School are 67% Hispanic, 24% White, 4% African American, 3% Two or more races, 1% American Indian.

Is Bessemer Elementary School a good school?

Bessemer Elementary School ranks 681^st of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Bessemer Elementary School attend?

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

High : Central High School

What district is Bessemer Elementary School in?

Pueblo School District No. 60

How many students attend Bessemer Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 248 students attended Bessemer 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.