Pioneer Elementary School

Summary:

Pioneer Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, serving grades K-5 with a total enrollment of 348 students. The school is part of the Academy School District No. 20, which is ranked 8th out of 116 districts in Colorado and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Pioneer Elementary consistently outperforms the state and Academy School District No. 20 averages in CMAS assessments for English Language Arts, Math, and Science. The school excels in supporting its Hispanic and low socioeconomic status (SES) student populations, ranking 3rd and 10th, respectively, out of all Colorado elementary schools in these subgroups. Pioneer Elementary's diverse student population, with a racial makeup of 50% White, 29.6% Hispanic, and other races, is higher than the nearby schools, which tend to have a larger percentage of White students. Additionally, the school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 11.6 to 13.4 over the past three school years, suggesting more individualized attention for students.

Overall, Pioneer Elementary School stands out as a high-performing, diverse, and equitable elementary school within the Academy School District No. 20. Its consistent academic achievements, support for underserved student populations, and efficient resource allocation make it a model for other schools to emulate. The school's success in providing a rich learning environment for its diverse student body is particularly noteworthy and prepares students for the increasingly diverse world they will encounter after graduation.


Detail:

Public K-5

 3663 Woodland Hills Dr
       Colorado Springs, CO  80918-6355


(719) 234-5000

District: Academy School District No. 20

SchoolDigger Rank:
200th of 943 Colorado Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $14,926 Help


Students who attend Pioneer Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Mountain Ridge Middle School
High:    Rampart High School

Student/teacher ratio:  13.4 Help
Number of students:  348

Racial breakdown:

White:
50.0%
Hispanic:
29.6%
Two or more races:
12.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  46.6% Help


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 Compare Pioneer Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Pioneer Elementary School ranks better than 78.8% of elementary schools in Colorado. It also ranks 10th among 21 ranked elementary schools in the Academy School District No. 20. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 76.35. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a high school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Pioneer Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Academy School District No. 20.  (See more...)
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Pioneer Elementary School is $14,926, which is the 3rd highest among 21 elementary schools in the Academy School District No. 20.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Pioneer Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Pioneer Elementary School 200th of 943 Colorado public elementary schools. (See Pioneer Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:


Academy School District No. 20:

SchoolDigger ranks Academy School District No. 20 8th of 116 Colorado school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Pioneer Elementary School?

Rank History for Pioneer Elementary School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Pioneer Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 64.30 315th 808 61.0%
2005 61.83 345th 823 58.1%
2006 63.40 338th 829 59.2%
2007 68.04 289th 852 66.1%
2008 57.66 399th 849 53.0%
2009 51.48 465th 872 46.7%
2010 53.31 478th 925 48.3%
2011 53.73 479th 935 48.8%
2012 52.26 482nd 935 48.4%
2013 62.47 371st 954 61.1%
2014 55.29 448th 962 53.4%
2015 55.04 383rd 938 59.2%
2016 49.03 427th 914 53.3%
2017 52.02 396th 929 57.4%
2018 47.64 440th 917 52.0%
2019 60.85 359th 965 62.8%
2021 60.45 311th 710 56.2%
2022 72.49 235th 921 74.5%
2023 74.10 215th 933 77.0%
2024 76.35 200th 943 78.8%
See the entire list of Colorado Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Pioneer Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 74.50 47th 332 85.8%
2021 59.54 28th 75 62.7%
2022 81.80 15th 203 92.6%
2023 88.96 11th 265 95.8%
2024 92.13 10th 365 97.3%
See the entire list of Best Colorado Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Pioneer Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 49.74 315th 690 54.3%
2019 51.61 338th 758 55.4%
2021 44.85 239th 351 31.9%
2022 60.53 227th 595 61.8%
2023 74.14 149th 642 76.8%
2024 69.49 192nd 684 71.9%
See the entire list of Best Colorado Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Pioneer Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 31.50 466th 693 32.8%
2019 56.51 297th 764 61.1%
2021 55.75 184th 352 47.7%
2022 68.00 180th 594 69.7%
2023 54.30 284th 649 56.2%
2024 65.85 217th 683 68.2%
See the entire list of Best Colorado Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Pioneer Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 67.10 62nd 270 77.0%
2023 97.71 3rd 197 98.5%
See the entire list of Best Colorado Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Pioneer Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 36.10 215th 337 36.2%
2019 46.21 318th 596 46.6%
2021 48.65 172nd 288 40.3%
2022 51.91 225th 454 50.4%
2023 62.80 187th 525 64.4%
2024 69.94 134th 539 75.1%
See the entire list of Best Colorado Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Colorado Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Pioneer Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Colorado Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3)
50%

0%

0%

0%

50%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Sunday, October 28, 2012

Open Quote This is an amazing school! Where the staff and administration truly care about every student. It is also a school where students are taught to be responsible for their actions, not prepare them for "D cell block" as mentioned in the previous review. The students are held accountable for their actions as they should be. While the test scores for a school may say is isn't "meeting" standards that isn't always a good measure of how the school is doing. You also have to take a look at the student make up. There are higher numbers of special needs students at certain schools. Plus certain schools have ESL (English as a Second Language)Programs where students are learning English. Both can have an impact on students abilities to learn and understand. Pioneer has both. Both of which they embrace and their priority is to help those students and give them the best possible chance at succeeding. So what one person may say is "not meeting" standards may in fact be a huge success. Close Quote


by a parent
Saturday, April 21, 2012

Open Quote This school is not run with the same quality of education as other District 20 schools. It has continuously failed to meet or improve state standards and as well as my own standards. For years the school has not met the standard of excellence that District 20 has come to be known for. I hoped that by giving it a few years the school, and administration, would improve and to my surprise, the condition has not improved whatsoever. To their credit, the teachers are doing the best they can despite the poor leadership they receive from the Principle and Vice Principle. This school was once an excellent school but now is run more like a juvenile detention facility than an elementary school. The focus seems to be on keeping children in line for the years the school has to "deal" with them rather than providing them with a superior education in a positive environment. It's a disgrace to the Academy School District 20 standards that other schools manage to continuously provide. Pioneer Elementary School is not going to improve my children academically and socially as long as they continue to attend. I believe if my kids stay, the only thing they will be prepared for is fast food service or to be housed on cell block D. These are not the aspirations I want my children to have. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Pioneer Elementary School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 419 17 7 24 0 n/a n/a 0 467
1989 513 30 12 29 3 n/a n/a 0 587
1990 477 15 7 46 3 n/a n/a 0 548
1991 508 31 20 82 2 n/a n/a 0 643
1992 577 33 23 50 3 n/a n/a 0 686
1993 591 29 20 45 0 n/a n/a 0 685
1994 494 30 19 28 2 n/a n/a 0 573
1995 547 20 13 30 5 n/a n/a 0 615
1996 547 20 13 30 5 n/a n/a 0 615
1997 541 20 18 36 14 n/a n/a 0 629
1998 532 22 19 41 16 n/a n/a 0 630
1999 479 26 23 36 11 n/a n/a 0 575
2000 471 26 21 41 9 n/a n/a 0 568
2001 468 22 28 37 7 n/a n/a 0 562
2002 403 25 25 58 4 n/a n/a 0 515
2003 403 25 25 58 4 n/a n/a 0 515
2004 391 36 30 62 5 n/a n/a 0 524
2005 378 41 28 73 6 n/a n/a 0 526
2006 379 37 34 74 11 n/a n/a 0 535
2007 397 33 26 83 7 n/a n/a 0 546
2008 379 36 24 91 5 n/a n/a 0 535
2009 351 24 27 85 5 n/a n/a 0 492
2010 334 24 31 79 7 n/a n/a 0 475
2011 299 25 20 106 5 5 16 0 476
2012 256 22 16 106 3 4 18 0 425
2013 229 24 12 104 4 4 26 0 403
2014 238 23 7 111 2 1 31 0 413
2015 224 19 7 104 0 2 33 0 389
2016 250 19 13 95 1 2 35 0 415
2017 244 22 17 89 0 2 34 0 408
2018 245 21 18 103 0 1 29 0 417
2019 240 20 14 100 2 0 30 0 406
2020 239 22 11 101 1 0 33 0 407
2021 212 16 9 86 2 0 29 0 354
2022 174 12 10 98 3 0 37 0 334
2023 174 13 9 103 3 1 45 0 348

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Pioneer Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 467 21.5 21.7 n/a
1989 587 27.7 21.1 1.4
1990 548 26.2 20.9 4.4
1991 643 28.6 22.4 6.4
1992 686 32.7 20.9 6.6
1993 685 32.5 21.1 6.4
1994 573 29.5 19.4 7.9
1995 615 32.0 19.2 5.7
1996 615 32.0 19.2 5.7
1997 629 32.4 19.4 5.4
1998 630 34.5 18.3 8.4
1999 575 36.5 15.8 5
2000 568 33.9 16.8 11.3
2001 562 38.7 14.5 10.3
2002 515 38.5 13.4 14
2003 515 38.5 13.4 14
2004 524 34.5 15.2 24.4
2005 526 34.6 15.2 24.9
2006 535 36.2 14.8 23.4
2007 546 37.0 14.8 25.3
2008 535 36.3 14.7 32.1
2009 492 35.9 13.7 39.4
2010 475 34.5 13.7 41.7
2011 476 32.8 14.5 42.9
2012 425 32.8 12.9 54.4
2013 403 31.9 12.6 50.4
2014 413 31.3 13.1 48.2
2015 389 33.0 11.7 46
2016 415 32.0 12.9 42.7
2017 408 32.6 12.5 43.1
2018 417 32.1 12.9 48.7
2019 406 32.1 12.6 46.8
2020 407 32.7 12.4 47.2
2021 354 29.5 12.0 48.6
2022 334 28.6 11.6 42.8
2023 348 25.8 13.4 46.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Pioneer Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 467 21.5 21.7 n/a
1989 587 27.7 21.1 1.4
1990 548 26.2 20.9 4.4
1991 643 28.6 22.4 6.4
1992 686 32.7 20.9 6.6
1993 685 32.5 21.1 6.4
1994 573 29.5 19.4 7.9
1995 615 32.0 19.2 5.7
1996 615 32.0 19.2 5.7
1997 629 32.4 19.4 5.4
1998 630 34.5 18.3 8.4
1999 575 36.5 15.8 5
2000 568 33.9 16.8 11.3
2001 562 38.7 14.5 10.3
2002 515 38.5 13.4 14
2003 515 38.5 13.4 14
2004 524 34.5 15.2 24.4
2005 526 34.6 15.2 24.9
2006 535 36.2 14.8 23.4
2007 546 37.0 14.8 25.3
2008 535 36.3 14.7 32.1
2009 492 35.9 13.7 39.4
2010 475 34.5 13.7 41.7
2011 476 32.8 14.5 42.9
2012 425 32.8 12.9 54.4
2013 403 31.9 12.6 50.4
2014 413 31.3 13.1 48.2
2015 389 33.0 11.7 46
2016 415 32.0 12.9 42.7
2017 408 32.6 12.5 43.1
2018 417 32.1 12.9 48.7
2019 406 32.1 12.6 46.8
2020 407 32.7 12.4 47.2
2021 354 29.5 12.0 48.6
2022 334 28.6 11.6 42.8
2023 348 25.8 13.4 46.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Pioneer Elementary School

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $12,105
2020 $12,296
2021 $13,443
2022 $14,316
2023 $14,926

Data source: Colorado Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Pioneer Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 359th of 965 Elementary schoolsRanks 215th of 933 Elementary schools
 14.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Pioneer Elementary School)44.143.3
 0.8%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Academy School District No. 20)54.650.1
 4.5%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)41.339.9
 1.4%
3rd Grade Math (Pioneer Elementary School)44.138.3
 5.8%
   3rd Grade Math (Academy School District No. 20)55.854.6
 1.2%
   3rd Grade Math (Colorado)4140.4
 0.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Pioneer Elementary School)61.856
 5.8%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Academy School District No. 20)64.358.8
 5.5%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)4843.8
 4.2%
4th Grade Math (Pioneer Elementary School)33.336
 2.7%
   4th Grade Math (Academy School District No. 20)50.548.9
 1.6%
   4th Grade Math (Colorado)33.632.7
 0.9%
5th Grade Science (Pioneer Elementary School)52.161.6
 9.5%
   5th Grade Science (Academy School District No. 20)54.948.1
 6.8%
   5th Grade Science (Colorado)35.933.9
 2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Pioneer Elementary School)56.274
 17.8%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Academy School District No. 20)67.365.1
 2.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)48.447.8
 0.6%
5th Grade Math (Pioneer Elementary School)32.467.1
 34.7%
   5th Grade Math (Academy School District No. 20)51.353.4
 2.1%
   5th Grade Math (Colorado)35.736.5
 0.8%
All Grades English Language Arts (Pioneer Elementary School)54.159
 4.9%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Academy School District No. 20)6260.4
 1.6%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Colorado)45.843.7
 2.1%
All Grades Math (Pioneer Elementary School)36.549.2
 12.7%
   All Grades Math (Academy School District No. 20)49.848.6
 1.2%
   All Grades Math (Colorado)34.732.9
 1.8%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students406348
 14.3%
African American2013
 35%
American Indian23
 50%
Asian149
 35.7%
Hispanic100103
 3%
Pacific Islander01
White240174
 27.5%
Two or More Races3045
 50%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients46.8%46.6%
 0.2%


Schools Near Pioneer Elementary School









Frequently Asked Questions about Pioneer Elementary School

Students who attend Pioneer Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Mountain Ridge Middle School
High : Rampart High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 348 students attended Pioneer Elementary School.

Students at Pioneer Elementary School are 50% White, 30% Hispanic, 13% Two or more races, 4% African American, 3% Asian.

Pioneer Elementary School ranks 200th of 943 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Colorado Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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