Summary:
Zip code 80535, covering the Laporte area of Colorado, is home to two public schools—Cache La Poudre Elementary School (grades PK–5, 281 students) and Cache La Poudre Middle School (grades 6–8, 280 students)—both part of the highly rated Poudre School District R-1, which ranks in the top 10% of Colorado districts with a 5-star rating.
Cache La Poudre Middle School is the clear standout in this area. It holds a strong 77th percentile state ranking (4 stars) and exceeds state proficiency averages in every subject. Its 8th graders are particularly impressive, with 69.2% proficiency in math and 67.9% in science—nearly double the state average in science. In contrast, Cache La Poudre Elementary School ranks at just the 47th percentile (2 stars), a gradual decline from the 51st percentile two years ago. The elementary school's math and science scores are especially concerning: only 16.7% of 5th graders are proficient in math and 19.4% in science, both well below state averages. Even the brighter spots, like 4th grade (55.8% ELA, 57.7% math), don't close the gap with the middle school.
The two schools serve different student populations, which helps explain the academic divide. Nearly half of elementary students (49.8%) qualify for free or reduced lunch, compared to 31.8% at the middle school. Both schools struggle with chronic absenteeism—about one in four students—though both are better than district and state averages. Notably, the middle school shows an upward trajectory, with proficiency rising steadily from 6th to 8th grade, while the elementary school's 5th grade science scores dropped 12.5 points in a single year. With no high school in 80535, students must leave the area after 8th grade, making the transition to an outside high school an important consideration for families.
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