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Prairie Hills Elementary School

Q: Is Prairie Hills Elementary School a good school?

Prairie Hills Elementary School ranks 366 th of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

366^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 946 Colorado Elementary Schools

Better than 61% of Colorado elementary schools

Summary

Prairie Hills Elementary School is a K-5 school in Thornton, CO, serving 378 students in the Adams 12 Five Star Schools district. The school ranks 366th out of 943 Colorado elementary schools, placing it at the 61st percentile with a 3-star rating on SchoolDigger. Academically, Prairie Hills is a solidly above-average school: on the 2025–2026 CMAS tests, 51.1% of students were proficient in ELA, 45.0% in math, and 37.7% in 5th grade science, all above both district and state averages. The district itself ranks at the 57th percentile among Colorado districts, so Prairie Hills is performing above its district's overall standing.

One of the school's most distinctive strengths is its attendance culture. With a chronic absenteeism rate of just 14.0%, Prairie Hills has less than half the district's rate of 32.2% and is well below the state's 28.4%. The school also shows exceptional results for economically disadvantaged learners, ranking in the 88th percentile statewide for low-SES students. Compared with nearby schools, Prairie Hills outpaces most of its closest neighbors, including Tarver Elementary School, Eagleview Elementary School, Hunters Glen Elementary School, Stellar Elementary School, Skyview Elementary School, and Glacier Peak Elementary School. The one nearby school with stronger overall results is Silver Creek Elementary, which also has a lower poverty rate.

There are a few areas worth watching. The school's gifted and talented students ranked at the 24th percentile statewide in 2024–2025, a notable weakness given the school's otherwise strong performance. Science scores have also been volatile, swinging from 55.0% proficiency in 2023–2024 to 37.7% in 2025–2026, though still slightly above the state average. Prairie Hills was once a stronger state performer, ranking in the 83rd percentile in 2016–2017, but has settled into the 59th–69th percentile range in recent years. Still, the school's strong math results, with 45% proficient versus 37.3% statewide, and its excellent attendance record make it a reliably above-average choice within Adams 12 Five Star Schools.

378

Students ?

17.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,473

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 — 81st percentile in 2016 → 61st in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Colorado average (47% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Above the Colorado median (61st percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 20 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school47%

District avg39%

Colorado avg41%

366^th of 946

Colorado public elementary schools ?

Top 39%▼ down 20 pts since 2016

From top 19% (2016) to top 39% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^th of 34Elementary Schools in the Adams 12 Five Star Schools

49^th of 114Adams 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
2026	59.0	366 of 946	61.3%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	46.6	353 of 695	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	54.3	89 of 251	64.5%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	53.6	308 of 697	55.8%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	43.6	324 of 547	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
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)

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

Hispanic (2026)65th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2026)56th percentile-6 vs school

Female (2026)49th percentile-12 vs school

White (2026)41st percentile-21 vs school

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

By subject vs Colorado (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts51%+6 vs state

Math45%+8 vs state

Science38%~ state avg

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

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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
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%)	59	366^th of 946 public elementary schools	61.3%		57.1	391^st of 950 public elementary schools	58.8%	25	47.5	49.3	56.7				51.1	50.8	40.6	44.3				45.0	37.7		$18,473
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%)	48.6	443^rd of 946 public elementary schools	53.2%		48.7	450^th of 950 public elementary schools	52.6%	7	41.9	38.4	47.4				42.2	56.5	46.6	36.8				46.9	19.3		$16,982
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%)	47.5	451^st of 946 public elementary schools	52.3%		58.4	376^th of 950 public elementary schools	60.4%	75	43.2	54.8	44.0				47.3	45.2	42.9	29.7				39.3	24.7		$17,223
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%)	65.5	302^nd of 946 public elementary schools	68.1%		63.5	331^st of 950 public elementary schools	65.2%	29	48.1	65.4	52.7	50.0	42.9	47.0	51.3	46.8	60.3	43.2	32.4	45.7	45.5	45.8	45.9	44.8	$13,132
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%)	38.4	532^nd of 946 public elementary schools	43.8%		42.2	514^th of 950 public elementary schools	45.9%	18	32.0	29.7	45.2				35.8	38.2	25.0	38.7				34.4	38.7		$16,732
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%)	35.7	566^th of 946 public elementary schools	40.2%		46.8	472^nd of 950 public elementary schools	50.3%	94	31.4	43.3	48.5				41.0	32.9	29.9	27.7				30.2	28.8		$17,682
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%)	75.8	213^th of 946 public elementary schools	77.5%		77.7	202^nd of 950 public elementary schools	78.7%	11	51.0	63.4	67.4				60.4	41.7	58.1	64.4				54.3	54.1		$16,407
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%)	44.4	475^th of 946 public elementary schools	49.8%		57.6	387^th of 950 public elementary schools	59.3%	88	45.1	31.6	44.3				40.2	49.1	35.9	43.0				42.5	23.4		$14,636
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%)	33.1	588^th of 946 public elementary schools	37.8%		22.1	707^th of 950 public elementary schools	25.6%	119	40.4	25.4	42.9				35.6	34.6	27.1	30.6				30.6	30.6		$20,673
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%)	57	388^th of 946 public elementary schools	59.0%		58.4	378^th of 950 public elementary schools	60.2%	10	43.8	61.6	60.4				55.3	37.1	54.8	44.0				44.6	25.2		$14,331

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

Is Prairie Hills Elementary School a good school?

Prairie Hills Elementary School ranks 366^th of 946 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.

How many students attend Prairie Hills Elementary School?

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

What district is Prairie Hills Elementary School in?

Adams 12 Five Star Schools

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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.