Best Public Schools in Zip Code 80021

Zip code 80021, covering parts of Westminster and Broomfield, Colorado, is served by 9 schools within the Jefferson County School District No. R-1 — a 4-star district ranked 24th of 115 in Colorado — spanning 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 1 high school, and 1 alternative school, with total enrollment of 4,453 students. Schools range in size from just 168 students at Doral Academy of Colorado to 1,123 students at Standley Lake High School, averaging about 495 students per school.

The academic standouts are easy to identify. Jefferson Academy Elementary leads the area, ranking 127th of 943 Colorado elementary schools (87th percentile) with 69% ELA and 61.4% Math CMAS proficiency — well above district averages — and remarkably low chronic absenteeism of just 4.9%. Woodrow Wilson Charter Academy isn't far behind at 149th (84th percentile) with 60.5% ELA and 59.8% Math, and it improved 211 spots in state rankings over three years, though its 35.2% chronic absenteeism is among the highest in the zip code. Wayne Carle Middle School is the top middle school, ranking 133rd of 469 (72nd percentile) and beating Mandalay Middle School on every major metric, including 52% vs 44% in ELA and 43.7% vs 33.1% in Math. Standley Lake High School posts a strong 91.3% graduation rate and 75% SAT Reading/Writing proficiency, though its SAT Math proficiency (32%) trails the district average (42%).

This is an area of stark contrasts. Top elementary schools rank in the top 16% statewide, while Semper Elementary School, Adams Elementary School, and Doral Academy of Colorado sit near or below the bottom third. The link between economic need and performance is clear: the lowest-performing schools have the highest free/reduced lunch rates (Doral 52.4%, Semper 45.2%, Adams 41.9%), while the top performers sit near 17%. Chronic absenteeism is a widespread concern, with Mandalay Middle School highest at 38.6% — well above the state average of 28.4%. Encouragingly, most schools are improving: Lukas Elementary School gained 83 places in state rankings, Adams gained 48, and Semper gained 46. Families should compare schools individually rather than assume all schools in the district are equal.