Summary:
ZIP code 80909 in Colorado Springs contains 13 schools—7 elementary, 1 middle, and 5 high schools—serving approximately 3,900 students, most of whom attend Colorado Springs School District No. 11, with two schools (Coperni 3 and Colorado Springs Charter Academy) overseen by the State Charter School Institute. This is a high-need area where the average free/reduced-lunch rate is about 69% and chronic absenteeism averages roughly 51%, nearly double the state rate of 28.4%.
Odyssey Early College and Career Options is the clear standout, ranking in the 88th percentile of Colorado high schools with a 93.5% graduation rate, 81% SAT Reading/Writing proficiency, and science scores nearly triple the state average—all while serving a majority low-income student body. Among elementary schools, Audubon Elementary School leads the group with math proficiency above both district and state averages, and Queen Palmer Elementary School also beats district averages in reading and math despite a 77% poverty rate. These schools prove that high achievement is possible even under challenging circumstances.
The bigger picture, however, is concerning. Chronic absenteeism is a widespread crisis—eight of the 13 schools exceed 40%, with Nikola Tesla Education Opportunity Center at 91.6% and The Bijou School at 89.4%. Math proficiency is especially weak, falling to single digits at Galileo Middle School, James Irwin Elementary School - Howard, and Mitchell High School. Outside of Odyssey, high schools are struggling with graduation rates between 56.7% and 70.3% and dropout rates well above state norms. Families in this ZIP code will find bright spots in Odyssey, Audubon, and Queen Palmer, but should be aware of the significant challenges around attendance, math instruction, and high school outcomes across most other schools.
Thank you for your feedback!