Summary:
Zip code 80211 in Denver, Colorado contains two middle schools serving grades 6–8 — Skinner Middle School and Rocky Mountain Prep Sunnyside — which together enroll 827 students and belong to School District No. 1, a district ranked 71st out of 115 in Colorado. Despite sharing the same zip code and district, these two schools sit at opposite ends of the state's academic spectrum.
Skinner Middle School is the standout performer, ranked 47th out of 469 Colorado middle schools (90th percentile) with a 5-star rating. With 673 students, Skinner posts proficiency rates of 67.6% in ELA, 55.3% in math, and 71.3% in science — well above district averages of 42.5%, 35.0%, and 30.5%. Rocky Mountain Prep Sunnyside, enrolling 154 students, is ranked 442nd out of 469 (6th percentile) with a 0-star rating. Its proficiency rates of 15.6% in ELA, 7.5% in math, and 11.1% in science fall far below state averages, creating gaps of 52 points in ELA, 47.8 points in math, and 60.2 points in science between the two schools.
Chronic absenteeism and poverty levels reflect the same divide. Rocky Mountain Prep Sunnyside has a 59.4% chronic absenteeism rate and 87% free/reduced lunch eligibility, while Skinner sits at 27.1% absenteeism and 41% free/reduced lunch. Interestingly, Rocky Mountain Prep Sunnyside has a lower student-teacher ratio (9.6 vs. 16.5) yet significantly worse outcomes, showing that smaller class sizes cannot overcome high poverty and absenteeism. The gap is also widening — Skinner improved in ELA and math between 2024–2025 and 2025–2026, while Rocky Mountain Prep Sunnyside declined in both. For parents in 80211, Skinner is the clear high-performing option, while Rocky Mountain Prep Sunnyside faces serious challenges requiring urgent attention.
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