Westminster Academy for International Studies

Westminster Academy for International Studies is a small PK-8 school in Westminster, CO, serving 258 students within Westminster Public Schools, a district that ranks in the bottom 17th percentile statewide. The school itself earns a 2-star rating and sits in the 32nd percentile of Colorado schools, placing it in the lower-middle tier statewide—but higher than its district's overall standing. With 77.9% of students qualifying for free/reduced-price lunch, the school serves a high-need population, yet maintains a favorable 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio, the lowest among its nearby peers.

Within its immediate neighborhood, Westminster Academy stands out as one of the stronger non-STEM schools in its district. In the most recent testing year, 29.9% of students were proficient in ELA and 24.1% in math, well above the district averages of 24% and 17.6%. Science is a notable bright spot: 5th graders posted 31.6% proficiency versus just 15.4% district-wide. Among same-district neighbors like Fairview Pk-8, Orchard Park Academy, Harris Park Elementary School, and Josephine Hodgkins Leadership Academy, Westminster Academy ranks first in math and second in ELA. The one dramatic exception is Colorado STEM Academy, just 0.31 miles away, which posts much higher scores (61.1% ELA, 59.2% math) but also serves a more advantaged student population.

A few trends are worth monitoring. All-grades ELA proficiency has declined over the past three years, from 39.2% to 29.9%, and chronic absenteeism has risen from 21.9% to 27.3%—still well below the district's 38.9% rate. The school's 7th grade math results stand out, with 40.7% proficiency, nearly three times the district average and above the state average. Given the high-poverty population it serves, Westminster Academy performs better than its demographics might predict, matching the statewide ranking of Trailside Academy in the Mapleton School District No. 1 while serving a much higher-need student body. For parents considering this area, Westminster Academy is a solid, stable choice within its district, with real strengths in science and middle school math—though the large gap with Colorado STEM Academy is worth weighing carefully.