Riverdale Ridge High School

Q: Is Riverdale Ridge High School a good school?

Riverdale Ridge High School ranks 222 nd of 349 Colorado high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Riverdale Ridge High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12 in Thornton, Colorado, with a student population of 1,463 as of the 2022-2023 school year. The school faces several challenges, including declining statewide ranking, academic performance gaps among student subgroups, and underperformance compared to nearby schools.

Riverdale Ridge High School has a more diverse student population compared to the surrounding schools, with 45.25% White, 42.45% Hispanic, and 5.6% Asian students. However, the school's academic performance, as measured by standardized test scores, is generally lower than the state and district averages. For example, only 16% of 11th-grade students at Riverdale Ridge High School were proficient or better in SAT Mathematics, compared to the state average of 31% and the district average of 16%. The school also ranks lower for Asian, Hispanic, and White student subgroups, as well as for students with disabilities and gifted and talented students.

When compared to nearby schools, Riverdale Ridge High School generally underperforms. For instance, Eagle Ridge Academy, a public charter school within the same School District 27J, outperforms Riverdale Ridge High School in both academic achievement and statewide ranking. Additionally, Riverdale Ridge High School has a relatively high student-teacher ratio of 24.2, which may be a contributing factor to the school's academic performance challenges.

Detail:

Public 9-12

13380 Yosemite Street
Thornton, CO 80602-8326

(303) 655-6800

District: School District 27J

SchoolDigger Rank:
222^nd of 349 Colorado High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $5,854

Feeder schools for Riverdale Ridge High School:

Elementary:	Brantner Elementary School
	John W Thimmig Elementary School
	Southeast Elementary School
	West Ridge Elementary
Middle:	Prairie View Middle School
	Rodger Quist Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 24.2

Number of students: 1,463

Racial breakdown:

White:

45.2%

Hispanic:

42.4%

Asian:

5.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 27.8%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Riverdale Ridge High School ranks worse than 63.6% of high schools in Colorado. It also ranks 2^nd among 5 ranked high schools in the School District 27J. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 34.38. (See more...)

The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Riverdale Ridge High School freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

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

Compare Details Riverdale Ridge High School has the largest high school student body size in the School District 27J. (See more...)

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Riverdale Ridge High School is $5,854. 4 high schools in the School District 27J spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Riverdale Ridge High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Riverdale Ridge High School 222^nd of 349 Colorado public high schools. (See Riverdale Ridge High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Disabled students:

Gifted and Talented students:

Male students:

Asian students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

School District 27J:

SchoolDigger ranks School District 27J 82^nd of 116 Colorado school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Riverdale Ridge High School

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Rank History for all students at Riverdale Ridge High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2021	18.86	168^th	210	20.0%
2022	21.03	170^th	221	23.1%
2023	38.80	204^th	349	41.5%
2024	34.38	222^nd	349	36.4%

See the entire list of Colorado High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Riverdale Ridge High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	46.36	39^th	62	37.1%
2024	57.48	32^nd	61	47.5%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Riverdale Ridge High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2021	34.06	132^nd	188	29.8%
2022	33.83	137^th	203	32.5%
2023	43.07	111^th	200	44.5%
2024	33.08	141^st	211	33.2%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Riverdale Ridge High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2021	29.56	165^th	239	31.0%
2022	31.23	175^th	257	31.9%
2023	37.02	159^th	254	37.4%
2024	33.13	165^th	257	35.8%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Riverdale Ridge High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	19.60	70^th	84	16.7%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Riverdale Ridge High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2021	33.95	97^th	118	17.8%
2022	53.18	62^nd	108	42.6%
2023	17.92	122^nd	135	9.6%
2024	43.67	96^th	140	31.4%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Riverdale Ridge High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2021	33.16	153^rd	240	36.3%
2022	34.41	156^th	253	38.3%
2023	35.38	160^th	252	36.5%
2024	31.51	164^th	256	35.9%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Riverdale Ridge High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2021	4.94	38^th	41	7.3%
2022	18.35	38^th	45	15.6%
2023	29.74	33^rd	43	23.3%
2024	25.92	32^nd	43	25.6%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Riverdale Ridge High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2021	27.09	133^rd	181	26.5%
2022	36.06	122^nd	205	40.5%
2023	32.13	127^th	198	35.9%
2024	29.68	134^th	199	32.7%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Riverdale Ridge High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2021	19.78	177^th	225	21.3%
2022	20.84	182^nd	228	20.2%
2023	22.58	186^th	234	20.5%
2024	20.00	188^th	229	17.9%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High 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.

Data source: Colorado Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3.3)

33%

Reviews:

by a parent
Friday, June 16, 2023

We had our kids at this school prior to COVID and throughout those years. We had an issue with a teacher who was telling the girls in class how they needed to stay away from boys and form female relationships instead. These and other inappropriate behavior/comments from this teacher made the girls very uncomfortable. When I wanted to speak to the principal it was a huge ordeal as he was filtered by two to three assistant principals who covered for him. We never were able to meet with him as they tried to downplay the issue and cover for the teacher. There was no corrective action or accountability for the teacher. It was apparent that the principal and his assistants were very inexperienced and how the school was ran was a glaring example. I would not recommend this school to anyone if they are looking for a well rounded, learning environment. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, April 13, 2023

This school is highly diverse, has great STEAM programs, many after school activities offered, higher than district testing results, and wonderfully supportive teachers and administration! Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, August 20, 2020

The school is newer and is well on to a good start the teachers are carrying and the office staff is very efficient. School sports are a little bit disorganized but I believe that they will get this manage with some time under their belts Close Quote

Enrollment information for Riverdale Ridge High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2019	260	7	34	219	3	2	18	543
2020	430	17	50	352	5	3	32	889
2021	583	18	68	474	3	5	44	1195
2022	619	16	72	551	4	4	66	1332
2023	662	23	82	621	4	1	70	1463

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 Riverdale Ridge High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2019	543	24.9	21.7	30.9
2020	889	44.4	19.9	30.4
2021	1195	57.0	20.9	22.9
2022	1332	55.5	23.9	23.6
2023	1463	60.3	24.2	27.8

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 Riverdale Ridge High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2019	543	24.9	21.7	30.9
2020	889	44.4	19.9	30.4
2021	1195	57.0	20.9	22.9
2022	1332	55.5	23.9	23.6
2023	1463	60.3	24.2	27.8

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 Riverdale Ridge High School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$11,245
2020	$10,601
2021	$10,453
2022	$10,563
2023	$5,854

Data source: Colorado Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Riverdale Ridge High 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.

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	543	1463	169.4%
African American	7	23	228.6%
American Indian	3	4	33.3%
Asian	34	82	141.2%
Hispanic	219	621	183.6%
Pacific Islander	2	1	50%
White	260	662	154.6%
Two or More Races	18	70	288.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	30.9%	27.8%	3.2%

Schools Near Riverdale Ridge High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				PSAT10 Reading and Writing (2024)	PSAT10 Mathematics (2024)	PSAT9 Reading and Writing (2024)	PSAT9 Mathematics (2024)	SAT Reading and Writing (2024)	SAT Mathematics (2024)	CMAS English Language Arts (2024)	CMAS Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT10 Reading and Writing 10th Grade	PSAT10 Mathematics 10th Grade	PSAT9 Reading and Writing 9th Grade	PSAT9 Mathematics 9th Grade	SAT Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 8th Grade	CMAS Science 11th Grade	Total
Riverdale Ridge High School	Public	9-12	13380 Yosemite Street	Thornton	80602	Adams County	School District 27J	No	No	No	No	(303) 655-6800	1,463	60	24.2	27.8%	662 (45.2%)	23 (1.6%)	621 (42.4%)	82 (5.6%)	4 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	70 (4.8%)	34.4	222^nd of 349 public high schools	36.4%		38.8	204^th of 349 public high schools	41.5%	18	66.0	21.0	62.0	27.0	47.0	16.0		11.9	$5,854
Horizon High School	Public	9-12	5321 East 136th Avenue	Brighton	80601	Adams County	Adams 12 Five Star Schools	No	No	No	No	(720) 972-4400	2,026	99	20.5	26.3%	1,076 (53.1%)	23 (1.1%)	684 (33.8%)	113 (5.6%)	8 (0.4%)	3 (0.1%)	119 (5.9%)	67.4	103^rd of 349 public high schools	70.5%		71.7	89^th of 349 public high schools	74.5%	14	74.0	44.0	70.0	48.0	64.0	39.0		33.3	$12,931
Prairie View High School	Public	9-12	12909 E 120th Ave	Henderson	80640	Adams County	School District 27J	No	No	No	No	(303) 655-8800	1,821	76	24.0	36.5%	565 (31.0%)	86 (4.7%)	1,030 (56.6%)	73 (4.0%)	6 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	61 (3.3%)	23.8	260^th of 349 public high schools	25.5%		26.9	248^th of 349 public high schools	28.9%	12	59.0	15.0	51.0	17.0	46.0	9.0		10.3	$12,025
Brighton High School	Public	9-12	270 South 8th Avenue	Brighton	80601	Adams County	School District 27J	No	No	No	No	(303) 655-4200	1,854	99	18.7	37.7%	733 (39.5%)	16 (0.9%)	1,038 (56.0%)	10 (0.5%)	11 (0.6%)	2 (0.1%)	44 (2.4%)	24.2	259^th of 349 public high schools	25.8%		26.5	254^th of 349 public high schools	27.2%	5	56.0	20.0	49.0	18.0	42.0	18.0		15.7	$12,325
27J Online Academy	Public, Virtual	6-12	89 N. 6th Avenue	Brighton	80601	Adams County	School District 27J	No	No	Yes	No	(303) 655-2527	297	21	14.1		101 (34.0%)	2 (0.7%)	172 (57.9%)	8 (2.7%)	2 (0.7%)	6 (2.0%)	6 (2.0%)	24.9	255^th of 349 public high schools	26.9%					(n/a)	24.0				50.0		12.0		$4,706
Innovations & Options	Public	6-12	830 Bridge Street	Brighton	80601	Adams County	School District 27J	No	No	No	No	(303) 655-2850	216	12	18.0		66 (30.6%)	4 (1.9%)	139 (64.4%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	4 (1.9%)								(n/a)									$15,646
Pathways Future Center	Public, Virtual	6-12	550 E. 124th Avenue	Thornton	80241	Adams County	Adams 12 Five Star Schools	No	No	Yes	No	(720) 972-4723	390	18	21.4	62.1%	98 (25.1%)	9 (2.3%)	266 (68.2%)	6 (1.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.6%)								(n/a)									$14,319
Eagle Ridge Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	3551 Southern Street	Brighton	80601	Adams County	School District 27J	Yes	No	No	No	(303) 345-4380	510	33	15.3	25.3%	234 (45.9%)	8 (1.6%)	245 (48.0%)	10 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	12 (2.4%)	51.4	161^st of 349 public high schools	53.9%		68.7	99^th of 349 public high schools	71.6%	62	74.0	28.0	54.0	32.0	77.0	35.0		35.0	$8,899
Mountain Range High School	Public	9-12	12500 Huron Street	Westminster	80234	Adams County	Adams 12 Five Star Schools	No	No	No	No	(720) 972-6300	1,761	85	20.8	47.3%	736 (41.8%)	35 (2.0%)	799 (45.4%)	107 (6.1%)	12 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	71 (4.0%)	35.8	218^th of 349 public high schools	37.5%		46.1	174^th of 349 public high schools	50.1%	44	60.0	19.0	55.0	28.0	56.0	25.0		22.2	$13,033
Vantage Point	Public	6-12	10900 Huron Street	Northglenn	80234	Adams County	Adams 12 Five Star Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 972-5800	343	31	11.1	70.0%	105 (30.6%)	10 (2.9%)	212 (61.8%)	7 (2.0%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.7%)	4.3	344^th of 349 public high schools	1.4%		2.6	346^th of 349 public high schools	0.9%	2					10.0			5.1	$24,752

Frequently Asked Questions about Riverdale Ridge High School

Is Riverdale Ridge High School a good school?

Riverdale Ridge High School ranks 222^nd of 349 Colorado high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Riverdale Ridge High School?

Students at Riverdale Ridge High School are 45% White, 42% Hispanic, 6% Asian, 5% Two or more races, 2% African American.

What schools feed into Riverdale Ridge High School?

Riverdale Ridge High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Brantner Elementary School
Elementary : John W Thimmig Elementary School
Elementary : Southeast Elementary School
Elementary : West Ridge Elementary
Middle : Prairie View Middle School
Middle : Rodger Quist Middle School

What district is Riverdale Ridge High School in?

School District 27J

How many students attend Riverdale Ridge High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,463 students attended Riverdale Ridge High School.

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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.