Westminster High School

Westminster High School is a large, traditional public high school in Westminster, CO, serving 2,010 students in grades 9–12 within the Westminster Public Schools district. The school has a notable graduation story: its 90.0% graduation rate for 2024–2025 exceeds the state average of 85.6% and is dramatically higher than its district's 75.8% rate. Dropout rates have also stayed below both district and state averages for every reported year. This is especially impressive given that 82% of students qualify for free/reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a high-poverty context.

However, academic proficiency tells a much different story. SAT reading and writing proficiency was 40% in 2024–2025, compared to 62% statewide, and math and science scores are even lower—just 13.6% of 11th graders were proficient in science. Chronic absenteeism is a major concern, with 46.1% of students missing substantial instructional time, nearly double the state average. The student–teacher ratio has climbed to 23.5, among the highest in the area, and even the school's gifted and talented students rank in the 5th percentile statewide, suggesting limited advanced coursework opportunities.

Compared to nearby schools, Westminster is far stronger than Hidden Lake Secondary, its same-district counterpart just 0.74 miles away, which has a 44% graduation rate and 80% chronic absenteeism. It also outperforms Arvada High School on graduation, dropout, absenteeism, and reading proficiency despite serving a higher-poverty population. The school nearly matches Pomona Junior/Senior High School on graduation and absenteeism, though Pomona posts stronger test scores. In short, Westminster has found ways to get students to graduation, but academic readiness—particularly in math, science, and advanced reading—remains the key challenge. Improving attendance and investing in instruction would likely yield the greatest gains.