Best Public Schools in Zip Code 80228

ZIP code 80228 in Lakewood, Colorado contains 9 schools serving elementary through high school, all within the Jefferson County School District No. R-1, a highly rated district ranked 24th out of 115 in Colorado. The mix includes 4 elementary schools (Devinny Elementary School, Rooney Ranch Elementary School, Hutchinson Elementary School, Foothills Elementary School), 1 middle school (Dunstan Middle School), and 4 high schools (Green Mountain High School, McLain Community High School, Warren Technical, Longview High School), with total enrollment around 3,958 students.

The area offers a sharp contrast in school quality. Devinny Elementary School stands out as the top performer, ranking 48th in the state (95th percentile) with 78.5% ELA and 72.9% math proficiency and just 6.6% chronic absenteeism. Rooney Ranch Elementary School is nearly as strong—a 5-star school with 75.1% ELA proficiency and the lowest poverty rate in the ZIP code (7.32% free/reduced lunch). Green Mountain High School is the standout traditional high school, with a 97.4% graduation rate and SAT reading/writing scores well above state averages; however, its 31.8% chronic absenteeism is a concern. By contrast, Foothills Elementary School struggles significantly, with just 34.9% ELA proficiency, a 60.6% poverty rate, and 33.7% absenteeism. The three alternative high schools—McLain Community High School, Warren Technical, and Longview High School—face severe challenges, with graduation rates around 20% and chronic absenteeism above 46%.

Across the ZIP code, poverty and absenteeism track closely with performance: the strongest elementary schools have free/reduced lunch rates under 15% and absenteeism under 8%, while struggling schools exceed 60% poverty and 33% absenteeism. Math is a consistent weakness, even at top schools like Devinny Elementary School (72.9% math vs. 78.5% ELA) and Green Mountain High School (40% SAT math vs. 71% reading/writing). Encouragingly, Dunstan Middle School improved sharply, jumping from 161st to 123rd in state ranking, while Rooney Ranch Elementary School has improved every year. For parents, the data reveal that 80228 offers excellent elementary options and a solid middle/high school path, but outcomes are highly uneven—making school choice within this area critically important.