Best Public Schools in Zip Code 81620

Zip code 81620, serving the Avon, Colorado area, contains two elementary-level public schools within the Eagle County School District No. Re 50: Homestake Peak School, which serves grades PK–8 with 421 students, and Avon Elementary School, which serves grades K–5 with 242 students. Both schools serve communities with significant economic need — 57.7% of Homestake Peak students and 79.8% of Avon Elementary students qualify for free or reduced lunch — and both rank in the bottom 20% of Colorado schools despite the district sitting at the 50th percentile statewide.

When comparing the two schools, Homestake Peak School has historically been the stronger performer, but it is on a steep downward trajectory. Its state ranking fell from the 38th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 19th percentile in 2025–2026, with its star rating dropping from 2 stars to 1 star. English Language Arts proficiency at Homestake Peak plummeted nearly 10 points in one year, from 41.5% to 31.8%. Avon Elementary School has been consistently in the bottom quintile but made modest gains in both ELA (28.4% to 32.0%) and math (18.1% to 19.2%). Both schools struggle greatly in math — 22.0% and 19.2% proficiency versus a 37.3% state average — and science proficiency is extremely low: 12.1% at Homestake Peak and 8.7% at Avon, compared with a 36.1% state average.

Chronic absenteeism is a systemic concern in this zip code, affecting 29.4% of Homestake Peak students and 31.4% at Avon Elementary, both above the 28.4% state average. Avon Elementary maintains a lower student-to-teacher ratio (8.8:1) than Homestake Peak (10.3:1), which may be supporting its modest academic gains despite higher poverty. Notably, both schools post nearly identical ELA proficiency rates (around 32%) despite very different poverty levels, suggesting factors beyond economic status influence literacy outcomes. With no standalone middle or high school in the zip code, Homestake Peak School serves as the only middle-grade option, though its declining performance may affect feeder patterns. Targeted interventions in math and science, combined with attendance initiatives, will be critical for reversing these trends.