Best High Schools in Zip Code 80249

Zip code 80249 in Denver has six high schools serving about 3,174 students, most in grades 9-12 with two also serving middle grades, all part of School District No. 1, which ranks in the 38th percentile in Colorado. The schools share serious challenges: free/reduced lunch eligibility ranges from 68.5% to 85.0%, and chronic absenteeism runs from 42.2% to 73.9%, compared to 28.4% statewide. Academic proficiency is generally below district and state averages, with one clear exception.

DSST: Green Valley Ranch High School is the clear standout, ranked 139th of 338 statewide with a 94.5% graduation rate, a 1.1% dropout rate, and the lowest chronic absenteeism in the group at 42.2%. It is the only school in the zip code to exceed state averages in math, with 41% SAT Math proficiency versus 32% statewide. The middle tier includes KIPP Northeast Denver Leadership Academy, which improved from the 13th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 26th percentile in 2025-2026 with an 88.5% graduation rate, and Rocky Mountain Prep RISE, which graduates 89.1% of students despite modest test scores. At the lower end, Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Early College, the largest school with 1,027 students, has fallen to the 3rd percentile. Vista Academy and Legacy Options High School rank near the bottom of the state, with Legacy Options High School posting a 60.3% graduation rate and a 16.7% dropout rate.

Three takeaways matter most. First, math is the weakest subject; Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Early College posts just 7% SAT Math proficiency and most schools are well below state averages. Second, chronic absenteeism is a crisis, with roughly half of all students in the area chronically absent, likely driving low test scores. Third, the three network/charter schools consistently outperform the district-run and alternative schools despite similar poverty levels. For families, DSST: Green Valley Ranch High School is the strongest academic choice, KIPP Northeast Denver Leadership Academy and Rocky Mountain Prep RISE offer solid graduation outcomes, while the remaining schools need urgent support. The success of DSST: Green Valley Ranch High School at similar poverty levels shows that strong results are possible in this community.