Summary:
Zip code 81003 in Pueblo, CO contains 6 schools serving grades PK-12 with a combined enrollment of 8,555 students, with most schools belonging to Pueblo School District No. 60, a bottom-tier district (12th percentile), alongside two exceptions: The Connect Charter School (Pueblo County School District 70, 63rd percentile) and GOAL Academy (El Paso County Colorado School District 49, 71st percentile). The area serves a high-poverty population, with an average free/reduced lunch rate of about 77% among reporting schools.
The Connect Charter School stands out as the clear academic leader, ranking 98th out of 469 Colorado middle schools (79th percentile, 4 stars). It outperforms both its district and the state in every subject—66.5% proficient in ELA vs. 44.7% statewide, 47.6% in math vs. 37.3% statewide—and has the lowest chronic absenteeism in the zip code at 13.3%. In stark contrast, GOAL Academy, a massive online high school enrolling 6,693 students, ranks in the 3rd percentile among Colorado high schools with a 49% graduation rate, a 14.1% dropout rate, and critically low test scores. SAT math proficiency sits at just 1% compared to 32% statewide, and only 23% of 11th graders are proficient in reading/writing versus 60% statewide.
Attendance is a significant challenge across 81003. Irving Elementary School has the highest chronic absenteeism at 45.4%, followed by Chavez/Huerta K-12 Preparatory Academy at 43.0%—both far above the 28.4% state average. Nettie S Freed K-8 Expeditionary School is a bright spot, exceeding its district in ELA proficiency (30.2% vs. 27.2%) and maintaining the lowest student-teacher ratio at 13.1:1. Chavez/Huerta K-12 Preparatory Academy presents a mixed picture: while math proficiency is just 4.8%, it posts a graduation rate of 85.4%, near the state average. Pueblo Youth Service Center, serving only 15 students, lacks sufficient data for comparison. For parents, The Connect Charter School is the strongest option academically, while traditional district schools face meaningful attendance and proficiency challenges that warrant consideration.
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