Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 80207

Middle schools in zip code 80207, located in the Denver, Colorado area, consist of a single school, McAuliffe International School, serving grades 6 through 8 within School District No. 1. This school is an elite performer by any standard, earning a 5-star rating for three consecutive years and ranking 18th out of 469 Colorado middle schools (96th percentile) for 2025–2026. Its ranking has remained remarkably stable, placing in the top 22 statewide for each of the past three years. This is especially notable given that its home district ranks only 71st out of 115 Colorado districts, making McAuliffe a high-performing outlier within a system that struggles overall.

Academically, McAuliffe dramatically outperforms both district and state averages. In 2025–2026, 73.9% of students were proficient in English Language Arts, compared to 42.5% district and 44.7% state averages. Math proficiency reached 75.1% versus 35.0% district and 37.3% state averages, while 8th-grade math hit an impressive 80.9%—more than 44 percentage points above the state. Science proficiency for 8th graders was 66.3%, again roughly double the district average. Chronic absenteeism stands at 19.0%, about half the district rate of 38.1% and below the state rate of 28.4%, though still affecting nearly one in five students. The school also reports a 0.0% dropout rate for the most recent school-level data available.

With 1,329 students and a student-teacher ratio of 19.7, class sizes are moderate, yet outcomes are exceptional. About 27.46% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, a lower share than typical for Denver Public Schools, and the combination of strong test scores and a stable, high-performance record suggests sustained excellence rather than a one-year fluke. For parents in zip code 80207, McAuliffe International School stands out as a top-tier option, offering elite academic results that far exceed district and state benchmarks, particularly in math and science. Its consistent 5-star rating and top-5% statewide ranking make it a compelling choice for families seeking a high-achieving middle school environment.