Summary:
Zip code 80004 in Arvada, Colorado, is served by six schools in the Jefferson County School District No. R-1 — four elementary schools (including Lincoln Charter Academy, which serves PK through 8th grade) and two high schools — enrolling roughly 4,460 students. The elementary schools are the clear strength of the area: all four — Stott Elementary School, Lincoln Charter Academy, Vanderhoof Elementary School, and Fremont Elementary School — exceeded both district and state averages in English Language Arts and math on the 2025–2026 CMAS assessments, and all four improved their state ranks over the past three years.
Stott Elementary is the top elementary school in the zip code, ranking 99th out of 943 Colorado elementary schools (90th percentile) with the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 12.7%. Among the two high schools, Arvada West High School is the clear standout, ranking 93rd out of 338 high schools with a 95.2% graduation rate and SAT reading/writing proficiency (70%) well above the state rate. In stark contrast, Arvada High School ranks in the bottom 4% statewide, with a 71.6% graduation rate, a 59.6% chronic absenteeism rate, and SAT math proficiency at just 7% — a dramatic gap from Arvada West's 37%.
Chronic absenteeism closely tracks performance: the schools with the lowest rates, Stott at 12.7% and Lincoln Charter at 15.2%, are the highest performers, while Arvada High's near-60% rate is a major red flag. Lincoln Charter Academy, serving as the zip code's de facto middle school, is worth monitoring after its 8th grade science proficiency dropped from 61.5% to 40.9%. For parents, the takeaway is clear: 80004 offers excellent, improving elementary options and one strong high school in Arvada West, but Arvada High School represents a serious equity and intervention challenge — a reminder that school choice matters even within a strong district.
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