Schools in Zip Code 80299

Zip code 80299 contains just one school: Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts (MESA), a high school in Thornton, Colorado serving 393 students in grades 9–12 within the Mapleton School District No. 1.

MESA is a high-poverty school where 69% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school ranks in the bottom 10–15% of Colorado high schools, earning just 1 star from SchoolDigger each year. Academic proficiency is far below state averages, especially in math: only 12% of 11th graders are proficient in SAT math compared to 32% statewide, and PSAT math proficiency ranges from just 12–14% across grades 9 and 10. Reading and writing scores are a relative strength—10th graders reached 46% proficiency, above the district average—but still trail the state by roughly 16–29 points in most subjects. Chronic absenteeism is a major concern, affecting 46% of students compared to 28.4% statewide, and the dropout rate of 3.3% is double the state rate of 1.6%.

Despite these challenges, MESA posts a graduation rate of 87.0%, which beats both its district (78.9%) and the state (85.6%). The school also outperforms its district in 11th-grade SAT reading/writing, 10th-grade PSAT reading/writing, and 11th-grade science CMAS scores. Mixed year-over-year trends show modest gains in 9th-grade reading and math and 11th-grade SAT reading and math, though 10th-grade scores dipped slightly. With only one high school in the zip code, MESA plays an outsized role for local families; while math achievement and attendance are significant areas for improvement, the school demonstrates strength in graduating students and supporting literacy at levels that exceed its district.