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Prairie Hills Elementary School

Q: Is Prairie Hills Elementary School a good school?

Prairie Hills Elementary School ranks 391 st of 950 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

391^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 950 Colorado Elementary Schools

Better than 59% of Colorado elementary schools

Summary

Prairie Hills Elementary School is a public elementary school in Thornton, Colorado, serving 416 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the Adams 12 Five Star Schools district, which is ranked 52 out of 115 school districts in the state.

Prairie Hills Elementary consistently outperforms the district and state averages in CMAS assessments for English Language Arts, Math, and Science. In the 2024-2025 school year, 44.5% of students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 42.2% for the district and 44.8% for the state. In Math, 43.4% of students were proficient or better, compared to 34.2% for the district and 35.9% for the state. The school's 5th-grade Science performance is particularly strong, with 53.6% of students proficient or better, compared to 39.5% for the district and 39% for the state. However, the school's performance for Gifted and Talented students is relatively lower, ranking 90th out of 119 schools in the 2024-2025 school year.

Compared to nearby schools, Hunters Glen Elementary and Stellar Elementary, Prairie Hills generally outperforms them in both ELA and Math assessments. However, Silver Creek Elementary performs at a similar or higher level than Prairie Hills in several academic areas, particularly in ELA. Additionally, Prairie Hills has experienced a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, from 11.3% in 2021-2022 to 27.7% in 2023-2024, which is a concerning trend that warrants further investigation and intervention.

378

Students ?

17.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,589

Per pupil spending ?

30.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

13801 Garfield Place
Thornton, CO 80602-7236

(720) 972-8780

District: Adams 12 Five Star Schools

Students who attend Prairie Hills Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:

Rocky Top Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

56.9%

Hispanic:

25.4%

Asian:

10.1%

See top rated Colorado elementary schools

Compare Prairie Hills Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 71st percentile in 2015 → 59th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Colorado average (46% vs 40% meeting standards)

✓Above the Colorado median (59th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 12 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school46%

District avg38%

Colorado avg40%

391^st of 950

Colorado public elementary schools ?

Top 41%▼ down 12 pts since 2015

From top 29% (2015) to top 41% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

11^th of 33Elementary Schools in the Adams 12 Five Star Schools

52^nd of 115Adams 12 Five Star Schools 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
2025	57.1	391 of 950	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.2	293 of 943	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.7	240 of 933	74.3%	★★★★☆
2022	67.9	270 of 921	70.7%	★★★★☆
2021	68.7	234 of 710	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	74.8	208 of 965	78.4%	★★★★☆
2018	76.3	193 of 917	79.0%	★★★★☆
2017	80.2	159 of 929	82.9%	★★★★☆
2016	77.1	172 of 914	81.2%	★★★★☆
2015	67.3	269 of 938	71.3%	★★★★☆
2014	63.3	348 of 962	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	57.0	436 of 954	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2012	58.8	404 of 935	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2011	67.8	315 of 935	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	61.2	394 of 925	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2009	57.0	408 of 872	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2008	52.9	445 of 849	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	52.5	457 of 852	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2006	55.0	408 of 829	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2005	56.3	400 of 823	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2004	57.9	371 of 808	54.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	45.0	358 of 694	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.2	307 of 684	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.9	224 of 642	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.2	223 of 595	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	71.0	115 of 351	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.5	222 of 758	70.7%	★★★★☆
2018	61.1	234 of 690	66.1%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	43.9	90 of 119	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2024	95.6	6 of 242	97.5%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	74.8	39 of 337	88.4%	★★★★☆
2024	75.3	49 of 365	86.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	51.9	314 of 700	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.7	218 of 683	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.5	227 of 649	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.9	243 of 594	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	48.1	224 of 352	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	70.4	191 of 764	75.0%	★★★★☆
2018	76.3	142 of 693	79.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	38.1	359 of 551	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.3	282 of 539	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.2	241 of 525	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	40.8	294 of 454	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	51.2	165 of 288	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	54.4	256 of 596	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.9	144 of 337	57.3%	★★★☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2024)98th percentile+29 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)88th percentile+30 vs school

Male (2025)55th percentile-4 vs school

Female (2025)48th percentile-10 vs school

White (2025)35th percentile-24 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)24th percentile-34 vs school

By subject vs Colorado (2024-2025) ?

Science54%+15 vs state

English Language Arts44%~ state avg

Math43%+8 vs state

3.6

5 ratings · 4 written reviews

5★3

4★0

3★0

2★1

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, August 18, 2016

My daughter currently attends Prairie Hills Elementary in Thornton. I am not very happy with her progress to date. She is behind in Math and I have approached her past and current teachers for extra help.

In addition, the front office staff are unprofessional and rude. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, August 2, 2013

My children have been going to the school for a few years now, and I love the Principle and all she does to help make the school run. She listens as things arises, which have and she has handled them with patience, kindness and understanding. I have 7 children, most have grown up and I have been to many different schools and this one is very well put together. They care and really try to meet the needs of everyone. Every school has their strong and week points. Prairie Hills really tries to improve in things they are aware of and make them right. The teachers care and work hard to help each student become successful. I am proud to say my children go to Prairie Hill Elementary School in Thornton, Co. Close Quote

by a citizen
Saturday, May 12, 2012

I just had to point out that the parent who posted the only other review of this school about their child being assaulted also posted the same review over at greatschools.org, except that they reviewed the Prairie Hills Elementary School in Colorado Springs, not this school of the same name in Thornton. So that review is not applicable to one of the two Prairie View schools. Sounds like the reviewer is either confused or doesn't pay attention to details.

I'm giving this school five starts to counter act the one star review given by the other reviewer. I am a parent that is moving into the area. I don't have a child at this school yet, but I may in the future. Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, August 23, 2011

DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILDREN TO THIS SCHOOL. I am saddened that such a beautiful school is so poorly operated. The Principal acts disgruntled and is not approachable at all. She never even greets parents or students. The Admin team as a whole is non-responsive to issues that arise, regardless of whether the issues are academic or concerns regarding bullying. My child has had two teachers who were worse than incompetent (could not even spell simple words), and very uncaring. The worst is that my child was the victim of a 3rd degree assault (but the courts said it should have been 2nd degree due to the severity) in the classroom, and the school did their best to bury it. The child who harmed my son was only suspended for a few days, and only because we called the authorities. I regret not transferring my child when we first had problems in first grade. We did so in order to not disrupt our child socially, but in retrospect, it was not worth his academics suffering and being badly injured on top of that. I hope that this review reaches out to parents out there, so that they don't have to suffer as our family has at the hands of this terrible school. Additionally, most parents in the community are not at all engaged in their children's education. They complain to each other, but don't make the time to complain to the proper authorities to try to help their children. Close Quote

Schools Near Prairie Hills Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CMAS English Language Arts (2025)							CMAS Math (2025)							CMAS Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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
Prairie Hills Elementary School	Public	K-5	13801 Garfield Place	Thornton	80602	Adams County	Adams 12 Five Star Schools	No	No	No	No	(720) 972-8780	378	22	17.5	30.2%	215 (56.9%)	3 (0.8%)	96 (25.4%)	38 (10.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	25 (6.6%)	57.1	391^st of 950 public elementary schools	58.8%		67.2	293^rd of 943 public elementary schools	68.9%	98	43.1	51.6	40.5				44.5	35.4	39.1	53.0				43.4	53.6		$16,589
Tarver Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3500 Summit Grove Parkway	Thornton	80241	Adams County	Adams 12 Five Star Schools	No	No	No	No	(720) 972-5640	475	22	21.2	37.5%	239 (50.3%)	9 (1.9%)	147 (30.9%)	37 (7.8%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	38 (8.0%)	48.7	450^th of 950 public elementary schools	52.6%		50.3	446^th of 943 public elementary schools	52.7%	4	38.0	37.1	46.4				40.2	43.7	40.3	45.6				43.2	35.7		$16,823
Eagleview Elementary School	Public	K-5	4601 Summit Grove Parkway	Thornton	80241	Adams County	Adams 12 Five Star Schools	No	No	No	No	(720) 972-5760	451	27	16.7	39.2%	219 (48.6%)	6 (1.3%)	170 (37.7%)	32 (7.1%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	20 (4.4%)	58.4	376^th of 950 public elementary schools	60.4%		46.8	474^th of 943 public elementary schools	49.7%	98	47.8	41.3	72.9				53.4	49.3	26.9	43.5				39.4	47.1		$16,629
Discovery Magnet School	Public	K-8	4949 E. 147th Ave.	Thornton	80602	Adams County	School District 27J	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(303) 655-6260	692	36	19.0	23.4%	392 (56.6%)	11 (1.6%)	218 (31.5%)	39 (5.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (4.5%)	63.5	331^st of 950 public elementary schools	65.2%		59.8	370^th of 943 public elementary schools	60.8%	39	55.3	44.7	59.2	48.7	54.8	54.2	52.8	57.9	42.1	44.0	32.9	42.5	45.0	44.0	49.3	53.3	$11,821
Hunters Glen Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	13222 Corona Street	Thornton	80241	Adams County	Adams 12 Five Star Schools	No	No	No	No	(720) 972-5440	491	27	17.9	53.0%	206 (42.0%)	7 (1.4%)	217 (44.2%)	25 (5.1%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	33 (6.7%)	42.2	514^th of 950 public elementary schools	45.9%		54.1	412^th of 943 public elementary schools	56.3%	102	32.8	39.7	48.6				40.5	35.8	37.8	37.1				37.0	30.4		$16,366
Stellar Elementary School	Public	K-5	3901 East 124th Avenue	Thornton	80241	Adams County	Adams 12 Five Star Schools	No	No	No	No	(720) 972-2340	418	25	16.7	67.9%	133 (31.8%)	8 (1.9%)	234 (56.0%)	22 (5.3%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.3%)	46.8	472^nd of 950 public elementary schools	50.3%		40.6	520^th of 943 public elementary schools	44.9%	48	45.7	21.7	53.4				39.6	46.5	22.9	45.8				38.0	42.4		$16,011
Silver Creek Elementary	Public	K-5	15101 Fillmore Stre	Thornton	80602	Adams County	Adams 12 Five Star Schools	No	No	No	No	(720) 972-3941	538	30	17.9	19.7%	336 (62.5%)	6 (1.1%)	118 (21.9%)	40 (7.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (7.1%)	77.7	202^nd of 950 public elementary schools	78.7%		80.1	167^th of 943 public elementary schools	82.3%	35	56.7	59.3	65.3				60.2	50.0	56.2	58.1				54.5	55.4		$16,074
West Ridge Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	13102 Monaco Street	Thornton	80602	Adams County	School District 27J	No	No	No	No	(720) 685-5300	690	40	17.1	39.0%	298 (43.2%)	12 (1.7%)	243 (35.2%)	98 (14.2%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	36 (5.2%)	57.6	387^th of 950 public elementary schools	59.3%		52.6	428^th of 943 public elementary schools	54.6%	41	46.1	48.6	46.7				47.1	55.3	46.7	43.5				48.6	31.5		$13,342
Skyview Elementary School	Public	K-5	5021 East 123rd Avenue	Thornton	80241	Adams County	Adams 12 Five Star Schools	No	No	No	No	(720) 972-5620	326	25	13.2	57.7%	119 (36.5%)	14 (4.3%)	161 (49.4%)	17 (5.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.3%)	22.1	707^th of 950 public elementary schools	25.6%		31.4	600^th of 943 public elementary schools	36.4%	107	24.5	32.7	31.6				29.6	18.9	21.6	22.8				21.1	28.1		$18,808
Brantner Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7800 E. 133rd Avenue	Thornton	80602	Adams County	School District 27J	No	No	No	No	(720) 685-5050	574	35	16.5	40.9%	271 (47.2%)	10 (1.7%)	216 (37.6%)	53 (9.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (3.8%)	58.4	378^th of 950 public elementary schools	60.2%		39.3	533^rd of 943 public elementary schools	43.5%	155	42.9	46.0	61.2				50.0	51.9	40.0	48.2				46.2	32.9		$12,738

Frequently Asked Questions about Prairie Hills Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Prairie Hills Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Prairie Hills Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Rocky Top Middle School

What district is Prairie Hills Elementary School in?

Adams 12 Five Star Schools

How many students attend Prairie Hills Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 378 students attended Prairie Hills Elementary School.

Is Prairie Hills Elementary School a good school?

Prairie Hills Elementary School ranks 391^st of 950 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Prairie Hills Elementary School?

Students at Prairie Hills Elementary School are 57% White, 25% Hispanic, 10% Asian, 7% Two or more races.

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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.