Summary:
Zip code 80537 in Loveland, Colorado is home to two public middle schools serving grades 6-8: Bill Reed Middle School and Walt Clark Middle School, both part of the Thompson School District R-2J.
Walt Clark Middle School is the clear standout in this two-school comparison. It ranks 236th out of 469 Colorado middle schools (50th percentile), while Bill Reed ranks 353rd (25th percentile). Walt Clark also earns 2 stars compared to Bill Reed's 1 star. In 2025-26, Walt Clark's ELA proficiency reached 41.8% versus Bill Reed's 24.6%, and math proficiency was 23.1% versus 18.9%. Walt Clark also outperforms Bill Reed in 8th-grade science (41.7% vs. 26.1%) and has a lower chronic absenteeism rate (27.5% vs. 35.1%). Notably, Bill Reed’s 8th-grade math score (28.5%) actually exceeds Walt Clark’s (26.0%), making it the only tested area where the lower-ranked school comes out ahead.
Math remains a challenge at both schools, with proficiency far below the state average of 37.3%. Bill Reed’s ELA proficiency dropped sharply from 32.3% to 24.6%, while Walt Clark’s declined more modestly from 45.3% to 41.8%. Both schools improved in science year over year. Economic disadvantage appears to play a role, as Bill Reed has a higher free/reduced lunch rate (47.0% vs. 39.1%), and student-teacher ratios are nearly identical (14.3 vs. 14.9). Overall, Walt Clark is the stronger choice academically, while Bill Reed shows a few bright spots but remains significantly behind district and state averages in most subjects.
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