Summary:
Zip code 80138 in Parker, Colorado is served by two middle schools — Cimarron Middle and Sierra Middle School — both part of the highly ranked Douglas County School District No. Re 1, with Cimarron serving grades 6–8 and Sierra serving grades 7–8, together enrolling roughly 1,857 students.
Cimarron Middle is the stronger overall performer. It holds a state rank of #88 out of 469 (81st percentile) compared to Sierra Middle School's #131 (72nd percentile), and posts higher proficiency in ELA (63.2% vs. 51.3%), math (48.5% vs. 45.6%), and 8th-grade science (50.8% vs. 48.0%). Cimarron also has a much lower chronic absenteeism rate (15.9% vs. 31.0%) and a lower poverty indicator, with just 14.7% of students receiving free/reduced lunch versus 26.8% at Sierra. Despite a larger student body and higher student-teacher ratio (18.8 vs. 15.9), Cimarron outperforms Sierra in nearly every academic category. Sierra, however, is on an upward trajectory: its state rank improved from #184 to #131 over the past two years, and its star rating rose from 3 to 4 stars.
Both schools outperform Colorado state averages in every subject, but neither reaches the Douglas County School District No. Re 1 average in math or science, and only Cimarron comes close in ELA. Cimarron's most notable change was an impressive 14.3-point jump in 8th-grade science proficiency, from 36.5% to 50.8% year over year. Sierra's biggest red flag is its 31.0% chronic absenteeism rate — nearly double the district rate of 16.6% — which likely contributes to its wider achievement gaps despite a more favorable student-teacher ratio. Both schools are improving their state rankings, which is encouraging for families considering either option in this area.
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