Best Public Schools in Zip Code 80241

Zip code 80241 in Thornton, Colorado is home to 9 schools within the Adams 12 Five Star Schools district — including 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 1 high school, and 1 alternative K‑12 school — serving roughly 4,436 students in a 3‑star district ranked 50th of 115 statewide.

Clear standouts exist at every level. At the elementary level, Tarver Elementary School leads the zip code in math with 46.9% proficiency — well above the district's 35.5% — and also posts the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (14.9%). Eagleview Elementary School is the strongest elementary school for reading, with 47.3% ELA proficiency, and also exceeds district averages in math. Among middle schools, Century Middle School is clearly the stronger option, with nearly double the ELA proficiency and more than double the math proficiency of Shadow Ridge Middle School. At the high school level, Westgate Community School stands out: 95% of its 11th graders scored proficient on SAT Reading/Writing, 35 points above the state, with a 96% graduation rate.

However, challenges exist. Pathways Future Center, an alternative high school, serves a high‑needs population with 79.9% chronic absenteeism, a 9.5% dropout rate, and 72.5% free/reduced lunch eligibility. Chronic absenteeism correlates with lower performance: the highest‑absenteeism schools like Shadow Ridge Middle School (37.9%) and Stellar Elementary School (27.6%) post weaker scores, while high‑attendance schools like Hunters Glen Elementary School (16.7%) perform better. Ranking trends are mixed: Skyview Elementary School improved from the 26th to 38th percentile, while Century Middle School and Stellar Elementary School slipped. Overall, school choice matters greatly in this zip code, and families should weigh attendance, poverty rates, and subject strengths when selecting a school.