Summary:
Zip code 80246 in Denver, Colorado contains exactly one school: McMeen Elementary School, a public PK-5 elementary school with 706 students that serves as the sole educational option in the area. The school belongs to School District No. 1, which ranks in the 38th percentile of Colorado districts. Families in 80246 have no local middle or high school options and must look outside the zip code for secondary education.
McMeen Elementary serves a high-need population, with 63.3% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch and a student-teacher ratio of 18.3. The school carries a 1-star SchoolDigger rating and trails both its district and the state on every tested subject. Math is a particular concern: only 22.9% of students are proficient versus 37.3% statewide, and proficiency declines from 24.6% in 3rd grade to 20.7% in 5th grade. ELA scores show an uneven pattern, with 4th grade a relative bright spot at 39.7% proficiency, but 3rd grade lags at 27.4%. Science proficiency sits at 23.0%, well below the state's 36.1%.
The most alarming metric is chronic absenteeism: 54.7% of McMeen students are chronically absent, nearly double the state rate of 28.4% and significantly above the district's 38.1%. On a positive note, the school is showing upward momentum, improving from the 18th to 26th percentile in state rankings over three years, with a notable 9.5-point gain in science proficiency. However, the combination of high poverty, low academic achievement, and severe attendance challenges means McMeen has substantial work ahead. For families considering this area, the school's improving trajectory must be weighed against its ongoing struggles and the lack of local secondary school options.
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