Summary:
ZIP 80538 in Loveland, Colorado, contains 11 schools — 8 elementary schools (including two PK–8 schools), 1 middle school, and 2 high schools — serving approximately 4,814 students. Nearly all belong to Thompson School District R-2j, while Bamford Elementary School is part of Poudre School District R-1, a 5-star district.
Families have several strong options. Bamford Elementary School is the top overall school, ranking in the 72nd percentile with the highest math proficiency in the ZIP (45.9%) and excellent 5th-grade science scores. Ponderosa Elementary is the best-performing Thompson school, with the highest ELA proficiency (58.8%) and the lowest chronic absenteeism (10.2%). High Plains School is the standout PK–8 school, and Loveland High School leads at the secondary level with a 93.8% graduation rate and a 0.7% dropout rate. On the other end, Peakview Academy at Conrad Ball and Laurene Edmondson Elementary School struggle with low proficiency and high poverty, while Harold Ferguson High School serves an at-risk population with a 51.5% graduation rate and 64.9% chronic absenteeism.
Math is the weakest subject across the ZIP, with only Bamford Elementary School, Ponderosa Elementary, and High Plains School meeting the state average. Chronic absenteeism and poverty track closely with achievement, creating a 42.9-point ELA gap between Ponderosa Elementary and Peakview Academy at Conrad Ball. Some schools are improving — including Ponderosa Elementary, Lincoln Elementary School, and Lucile Erwin Middle School — while Centennial Elementary School, Big Thompson Elementary School, and Laurene Edmondson Elementary School are declining. Science is a hidden strength at several schools, with Bamford Elementary School and High Plains School well above state averages. Overall, ZIP 80538 offers a wide range of school quality, so families should research individual school performance carefully.
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