Summary:
Zip code 80002 in Arvada, Colorado is home to two elementary-level schools within the Jefferson County School District No. R-1: Foster Dual Language Pk-8, serving grades PK–8, and Lawrence Elementary School, serving grades K–5. Together they enroll roughly 866 students, and while the district itself ranks in the 79th percentile statewide, both of these schools currently rank in the 35th–36th percentile, placing them below the district's overall reputation.
Lawrence Elementary School has the slight academic edge in reading and math despite serving a higher-needs population. Its ELA proficiency is 37.2% versus Foster Dual Language Pk-8's 35.8%, and its math proficiency is 30.7% versus Foster Dual Language Pk-8's 23.3%. This is notable because Lawrence Elementary School has a much higher free/reduced lunch rate (73.8% vs. 50.2%) and a chronic absenteeism rate of 47.9% — nearly one in two students — compared to Foster Dual Language Pk-8's 21.0%. Foster Dual Language Pk-8, however, offers a unique dual language program and a PK–8 model, and its 4th grade ELA score of 57.1% exceeds the state average. Lawrence Elementary School's 5th grade ELA is stronger (45.6% vs. 29.8%), while Foster Dual Language Pk-8 leads in the earlier grades.
Science is a consistent weakness: both schools sit near 19% proficiency in 5th grade science, far below the state average of 36.1%. Foster Dual Language Pk-8 also shows a sharp drop in middle school, with math falling from 34.0% in 4th grade to 15.2% in 6th grade, and 8th grade math at just 17.8%. Rankings have been relatively stable, with both schools holding two stars and Foster Dual Language Pk-8 improving from 673rd in 2023-24 to 615th in 2025-26. For parents, Lawrence Elementary School offers stronger all-grades academics but has a serious attendance problem, while Foster Dual Language Pk-8 offers a distinctive dual language pathway with better attendance but struggles in science and middle school math.
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