Best Public Schools in Zip Code 80303

Zip code 80303 in Boulder, Colorado is home to 9 schools serving approximately 2,871 students, all within the Boulder Valley School District No. Re2, which ranks 5th out of 115 districts in Colorado. The area includes 5 elementary schools (including the K-8 Horizons K-8 School), 2 middle schools, 1 high school, and 1 alternative school. School sizes range from 184 students at Arapahoe Ridge High School to 483 at Nevin Platt Middle School. Every school in this ZIP code exceeds state proficiency averages by wide margins.

High Peaks Elementary School and Eisenhower Elementary School are the academic standouts, both ranking in the top 10 of 943 Colorado elementary schools. High Peaks leads with 88.1% ELA and 86.8% math proficiency, plus the lowest chronic absenteeism (8.5%) and lowest poverty rate (9.7% free/reduced lunch) among schools reporting data. Eisenhower matches High Peaks in ELA at 88.1% and posts the highest 5th-grade science score in the ZIP code at 86.9%, while serving a higher-poverty population (22.4%). At the secondary level, Manhattan Middle School of the Arts and Academics is the clear standout, ranking #37 in the state and improving from #127 over three years. It outperforms Nevin Platt Middle School in every subject despite carrying a higher poverty rate (31.1% vs. 14.7%).

The most challenged school is Arapahoe Ridge High School, which serves a 72.8% free/reduced lunch population and posts a 70% graduation rate with a 7.3% dropout rate. Middle school math is a notable weak point: both middle schools hover near the district average in math (53.4% and 56.0% vs. 56.1%) while excelling in ELA. Douglass Elementary School stands out for its exceptional 4.1% chronic absenteeism rate, though its math proficiency (55.7%) trails the district. Boulder Universal shows a striking achievement gap with 90% SAT reading/writing proficiency but only 38% in math. Overall, schools in 80303 are improving, with positive rank momentum at Manhattan, Nevin Platt, Horizons K-8, and Eisenhower, making this ZIP code a strong choice for families.