Schools in Zip Code 80247

Zip code 80247 in Denver, Colorado, is served by a single school: Challenge School, a public PK–8 school within the Cherry Creek School District No. 5. With 560 students and no standalone middle or high schools in the area, this one campus covers the entire educational journey from preschool through 8th grade.

Challenge School is an exceptional performer by nearly every measure. It is currently ranked #6 out of 943 Colorado elementary schools (99th percentile) and has maintained a #5 or #6 state ranking for three consecutive years. Academic proficiency is outstanding: 91.4% of students are proficient in English Language Arts and 92.2% in Math, compared to state averages of 44.7% and 37.3%, respectively. Grade-level scores remain strong across the board, with ELA proficiency ranging from 80.3% (4th grade) to 95.7% (7th grade), and Math proficiency ranging from 89.6% (4th grade) to 94.9% (5th grade). Science scores are also excellent, with 76.9% proficiency in 5th grade and 86.6% in 8th grade. While these science scores declined meaningfully year-over-year, they remain far above district and state benchmarks. The school also posts exceptionally low chronic absenteeism at 6.8%, compared to 25.3% for the district and 28.4% statewide.

For parents, the key takeaway is that zip code 80247 offers access to one of Colorado's elite public schools. Challenge School's student-teacher ratio of 16.1 provides a supportive learning environment, and its free/reduced lunch rate of 17.32% reflects a relatively affluent student population. The school dramatically outperforms its already-strong district, which ranks #26 out of 115 Colorado districts, suggesting unique strengths beyond district resources. The only relative soft spot is 4th grade ELA at 80.3%, which may indicate a curriculum transition. Overall, with sustained top-10 rankings and near-90%+ proficiency in core subjects, Challenge School is an outstanding educational institution that fully serves the needs of this zip code's families.