Is Polaris Elementary School a good school?

Yes! Polaris Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 1 st of 943 Colorado elementary schools.

How many students attend Polaris Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 339 students attended Polaris Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Polaris Elementary School?

Students at Polaris Elementary School are 58% White, 16% Two or more races, 12% Hispanic, 10% Asian, 3% African American.

Polaris Elementary School

Summary:

Polaris Elementary School is a highly-ranked public elementary school in Denver, Colorado that serves 328 students from grades 1 to 5. It has consistently been ranked as the #1 elementary school in Colorado for several years, earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Polaris Elementary School significantly outperforms the School District No. 1 and state averages in academic proficiency, with 95.6% of students proficient or better in CMAS/English Language Arts and 91.4% proficient or better in CMAS/Math, compared to 40.7% and 31.2% for the district, respectively. The school also has a diverse student population, with 63.11% White, 10.98% Hispanic, 9.45% Asian, and 3.05% African American students, which is higher than the nearby schools like International Academy of Denver at Harrington and Whittier Ece-8 School. Additionally, Polaris has a relatively low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, at 7.01%, compared to the higher rates at nearby schools.

Polaris Elementary School's consistent high performance, diverse student population, and relatively low socioeconomic barriers suggest that its success is the result of effective teaching, strong leadership, and a commitment to providing a quality education for all students. This school serves as a model for how to create an inclusive and equitable learning environment that fosters academic success, challenging the common perception that diversity and academic excellence are mutually exclusive.

Detail:

Public 1-5

410 Park Avenue West
Denver, CO 80205-3113

(720) 424-7860

District: School District No. 1

SchoolDigger Rank:
1^st of 943 Colorado Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $16,270

Student/teacher ratio: 17.5

Number of students: 339

Racial breakdown:

White:

58.4%

Two or more races:

15.9%

Hispanic:

12.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 15%

See top rated Colorado elementary schools

Compare Polaris Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Polaris Elementary School ranks better than 99.9% of elementary schools in Colorado. It also ranks first among 94 ranked elementary schools in the School District No. 1! (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 99.56. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a 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 Student population at Polaris Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (58.4%), two or more races (15.9%), Hispanic (12.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 15% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Polaris Elementary School is 17.5. 96 elementary schools in the School District No. 1 have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Polaris Elementary School employs 19.3 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Polaris Elementary School is $16,270. 86 elementary schools in the School District No. 1 spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Polaris Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Polaris Elementary School 1^st of 943 Colorado public elementary schools. (See Polaris Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

School District No. 1:

SchoolDigger ranks School District No. 1 78^th of 116 Colorado school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Polaris Elementary School.

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Your rating for Polaris Elementary School?

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Rank History for Polaris Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Polaris Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CO State Percentile
2004	93.66	15^th	808	98.1%
2005	93.08	11^th	823	98.7%
2006	95.34	4^th	829	99.5%
2007	95.98	4^th	852	99.5%
2008	95.38	4^th	849	99.5%
2009	94.75	7^th	872	99.2%
2010	95.47	4^th	925	99.6%
2011	95.93	4^th	935	99.6%
2012	96.58	3^rd	935	99.7%
2013	96.74	3^rd	954	99.7%
2014	97.42	1^st	962	99.9%
2015	99.93	1^st	938	99.9%
2016	99.82	1^st	914	99.9%
2017	99.84	1^st	929	99.9%
2018	99.79	1^st	917	99.9%
2019	99.70	1^st	965	99.9%
2021	99.51	1^st	710	99.9%
2022	99.68	1^st	921	99.9%
2023	99.65	1^st	933	99.9%
2024	99.56	1^st	943	99.9%

See the entire list of Colorado Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Female students at Polaris Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CO State Percentile
2018	99.24	1^st	690	99.9%
2019	99.41	1^st	758	99.9%
2021	98.83	1^st	351	99.7%
2022	99.09	1^st	595	99.8%
2023	99.14	1^st	642	99.8%
2024	98.98	1^st	684	99.9%

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

Rank History for Male students at Polaris Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CO State Percentile
2018	99.75	1^st	693	99.9%
2019	99.30	1^st	764	99.9%
2021	98.66	2^nd	352	99.4%
2022	99.50	1^st	594	99.8%
2023	99.33	1^st	649	99.8%
2024	99.28	1^st	683	99.9%

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

Rank History for White students at Polaris Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CO State Percentile
2018	99.47	1^st	337	99.7%
2019	99.08	1^st	596	99.8%
2021	98.54	1^st	288	99.7%
2022	98.99	1^st	454	99.8%
2023	99.09	1^st	525	99.8%
2024	98.86	2^nd	539	99.6%

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.

Data source: Colorado Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Sunday, February 21, 2021

Outstanding curriculum and learning environment for HGT students. Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

We have two children that have been at Polaris since kindergarten. Our older daughter is now in 5th grade, reflecting over the years we give Polaris 5 stars plus. It has given our daughters an excellent environment to become their best academically. Originally, I wanted my children to attend Polaris because I saw such camaraderie between students and teachers; I noticed that it was an environment that fostered accountability in its students. Now I would add that it fosters academic excellence in its students. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Polaris Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2001	45	30	6	15	3	n/a	n/a	0	99
2002	90	52	15	20	3	n/a	n/a	0	180
2003	90	52	15	20	3	n/a	n/a	0	180
2004	105	44	13	26	3	n/a	n/a	0	191
2005	182	55	22	33	3	n/a	n/a	0	295
2006	209	39	23	36	2	n/a	n/a	0	309
2007	233	40	30	31	2	n/a	n/a	0	336
2008	253	32	22	31	1	n/a	n/a	0	339
2009	253	34	20	32	1	n/a	n/a	0	340
2010	266	23	19	27	0	n/a	n/a	0	335
2011	252	11	9	37	0	0	20	0	329
2012	257	9	10	30	0	0	26	0	332
2013	266	8	11	25	0	0	24	0	334
2014	269	6	11	24	0	0	23	0	333
2015	269	5	18	21	0	0	20	0	333
2016	266	7	12	19	0	0	29	0	333
2017	268	6	12	21	0	0	26	0	333
2018	252	12	11	30	0	0	29	0	334
2019	240	12	12	33	2	0	33	0	332
2020	238	16	15	32	3	0	26	0	330
2021	237	13	17	30	2	0	33	0	332
2022	217	10	22	36	1	0	44	0	330
2023	207	10	31	36	1	0	43	0	328
2024	198	10	33	42	1	0	54	1	339

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 Polaris Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2001	99	6.5	15.2	30.3
2002	180	12.0	15.0	17.2
2003	180	12.0	15.0	17.2
2004	191	10.7	17.9	24.6
2005	295	15.2	19.4	17.6
2006	309	14.9	20.7	16.2
2007	336	18.0	18.7	15.2
2008	339	17.0	19.9	10.3
2009	340	16.5	20.6	9.1
2010	335	19.9	16.7	11.3
2011	329	17.5	18.8	9.1
2012	332	15.5	21.4	7.8
2013	334	14.6	22.8	6
2014	333	19.5	17.0	3
2015	333	18.0	18.5	3
2016	333	18.0	18.5	5.7
2017	333	17.5	19.0	3.9
2018	334	17.7	18.8	4.5
2019	332	17.7	18.7	6
2020	330	17.7	18.5	7.3
2021	332	19.2	17.2	7.5
2022	330	19.9	16.5	5.5
2023	328	19.3	16.9	7
2024	339	19.3	17.5	15

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 Polaris Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2001	99	6.5	15.2	30.3
2002	180	12.0	15.0	17.2
2003	180	12.0	15.0	17.2
2004	191	10.7	17.9	24.6
2005	295	15.2	19.4	17.6
2006	309	14.9	20.7	16.2
2007	336	18.0	18.7	15.2
2008	339	17.0	19.9	10.3
2009	340	16.5	20.6	9.1
2010	335	19.9	16.7	11.3
2011	329	17.5	18.8	9.1
2012	332	15.5	21.4	7.8
2013	334	14.6	22.8	6
2014	333	19.5	17.0	3
2015	333	18.0	18.5	3
2016	333	18.0	18.5	5.7
2017	333	17.5	19.0	3.9
2018	334	17.7	18.8	4.5
2019	332	17.7	18.7	6
2020	330	17.7	18.5	7.3
2021	332	19.2	17.2	7.5
2022	330	19.9	16.5	5.5
2023	328	19.3	16.9	7
2024	339	19.3	17.5	15

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 Polaris Elementary School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$9,601
2020	$12,324
2021	$12,624
2022	$14,381
2023	$16,270

Data source: Colorado Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Polaris 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 1^st of 965 Elementary schools	Ranks 1^st of 933 Elementary schools	0%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Polaris Elementary School)	89.6	95.8	6.2%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (School District No. 1)	39.4	40.1	0.7%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)	41.3	39.9	1.4%
3rd Grade Math (Polaris Elementary School)	88.3	91.8	3.5%
3rd Grade Math (School District No. 1)	37.5	36.4	1.1%
3rd Grade Math (Colorado)	41	40.4	0.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Polaris Elementary School)	96.3	97.4	1.1%
4th Grade English Language Arts (School District No. 1)	43.6	40.6	3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)	48	43.8	4.2%
4th Grade Math (Polaris Elementary School)	93.8	92.2	1.6%
4th Grade Math (School District No. 1)	31.2	29	2.2%
4th Grade Math (Colorado)	33.6	32.7	0.9%
5th Grade Science (Polaris Elementary School)	96	91	5%
5th Grade Science (School District No. 1)	25.9	26.2	0.3%
5th Grade Science (Colorado)	35.9	33.9	2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Polaris Elementary School)	100	94.2	5.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (School District No. 1)	42.3	41.2	1.1%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)	48.4	47.8	0.6%
5th Grade Math (Polaris Elementary School)	100	92.8	7.2%
5th Grade Math (School District No. 1)	34.9	33.2	1.7%
5th Grade Math (Colorado)	35.7	36.5	0.8%
All Grades English Language Arts (Polaris Elementary School)	95.3	95.9	0.6%
All Grades English Language Arts (School District No. 1)	42.8	40.3	2.5%
All Grades English Language Arts (Colorado)	45.8	43.7	2.1%
All Grades Math (Polaris Elementary School)	94	92.2	1.8%
All Grades Math (School District No. 1)	32.7	30.3	2.4%
All Grades Math (Colorado)	34.7	32.9	1.8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	332	328	1.2%
African American	12	10	16.7%
American Indian	2	1	50%
Asian	12	31	158.3%
Hispanic	33	36	9.1%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	240	207	13.8%
Two or More Races	33	43	30.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	6%	7%	1%

Schools Near Polaris Elementary School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				CMAS English Language Arts (2024)						CMAS Math (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	CMAS English Language Arts 3rd Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 4th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 6th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 7th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts All Grades	CMAS Math 3rd Grade	CMAS Math 4th Grade	CMAS Math 5th Grade	CMAS Math All Grades	CMAS Science 5th Grade	Total
Polaris Elementary School	Public	1-5	410 Park Avenue West	Denver	80205	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	No	(720) 424-7860	339	19	17.5	15.0%	198 (58.4%)	10 (2.9%)	42 (12.4%)	33 (9.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (15.9%)	99.6	1^st of 943 public elementary schools	99.9%		99.6	1^st of 933 public elementary schools	99.9%		95.0	93.0	98.7			95.6	91.4	87.8	94.9	91.4	93.4	$16,270
Downtown Denver Expeditionary School	Public, Charter	K-5	1860 Lincoln St	Denver	80203	Denver County	School District No. 1	Yes	No	No	No	(720) 424-2350	243	18	13.1	36.2%	128 (52.7%)	13 (5.3%)	69 (28.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	29 (11.9%)	47.6	471^st of 943 public elementary schools	50.1%		47.4	462^nd of 933 public elementary schools	50.5%	9	43.5	41.0	52.1			45.9	58.7	25.6	32.0	39.3	24.5	$15,645
University Prep - Arapahoe St.	Public, Charter	K-5	2409 Arapahoe Street	Denver	80205	Denver County	School District No. 1	Yes	No	No	Yes	(303) 292-0463	285	28	10.1	90.5%	14 (4.9%)	147 (51.6%)	96 (33.7%)	2 (0.7%)	5 (1.8%)	1 (0.4%)	19 (6.7%)	11.4	862^nd of 943 public elementary schools	8.6%		16	792^nd of 933 public elementary schools	15.1%	70	15.6	11.3	20.5			15.3	12.1	23.1	10.0	16.0	12.8	$17,960
Whittier Ece-8 School	Public	PK, KG-8	2480 Downing Street	Denver	80205	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 424-3040	214	16	13.4	90.7%	12 (5.6%)	113 (52.8%)	61 (28.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	3 (1.4%)	24 (11.2%)								(n/a)			22.2	28.0	19.0	16.3				4.1		$19,385
Cole Arts and Science Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	1350 E 33rd Ave	Denver	80205	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 423-9120	268	21	12.5	87.3%	29 (10.8%)	47 (17.5%)	177 (66.0%)	2 (0.7%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.4%)	10 (3.7%)	6.9	922^nd of 943 public elementary schools	2.2%		13.7	833^rd of 933 public elementary schools	10.7%	89	13.6	16.7	9.4			13.1				10.0		$20,786
French American School of Denver	Public, Charter	K-5	2350 N. Gaylord Street	Denver	80205	Denver County	School District No. 1	Yes	No	No	No	(720) 506-4589	189	13	14.1	14.8%	140 (74.1%)	15 (7.9%)	13 (6.9%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (10.6%)	82.2	149^th of 943 public elementary schools	84.2%		44.8	478^th of 933 public elementary schools	48.8%	329	58.3	58.8	84.0			68.2	58.3	44.4	60.0	55.2	56.0	$13,930
Wyatt Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	3620 Franklin Street	Denver	80205	Denver County	School District No. 1	Yes	No	No	Yes	(303) 292-5515	208	16	13.0	89.9%	22 (10.6%)	48 (23.1%)	128 (61.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	8 (3.8%)								(n/a)	34.2					21.2				12.9		$14,223
Dora Moore Ece-8 School	Public	PK, KG-8	846 Corona Street	Denver	80218	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 424-5300	317	21	14.8	60.6%	98 (30.9%)	76 (24.0%)	96 (30.3%)	2 (0.6%)	4 (1.3%)	2 (0.6%)	38 (12.0%)	25.6	670^th of 943 public elementary schools	29.0%		23.1	695^th of 933 public elementary schools	25.5%	25	22.2	37.5	41.7	15.8		33.8	25.0	31.3	10.8	18.7	25.7	$18,318
Columbine Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2540 East 29th Ave	Denver	80205	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 424-8510	321	19	16.5	42.4%	136 (42.4%)	68 (21.2%)	87 (27.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	28 (8.7%)	19.2	750^th of 943 public elementary schools	20.5%		32.2	590^th of 933 public elementary schools	36.8%	160	23.1	31.6	20.8			26.1	28.0	18.4	12.5	19.5		$18,972
Center for Talent Development at Greenlee	Public	PK, KG-5	1150 Lipan Street	Denver	80204	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 424-6800	261	22	11.8	82.4%	30 (11.5%)	70 (26.8%)	144 (55.2%)	6 (2.3%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.4%)	15	807^th of 943 public elementary schools	14.4%		11.5	869^th of 933 public elementary schools	6.9%	62	15.6	17.5	36.0			21.6		15.0		9.3		$20,068

Polaris Elementary School

Polaris Elementary School:

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

School District No. 1:

Average Parent Rating:

What do you think?

Rank History for Polaris Elementary School

Rank History for all students at Polaris Elementary School

Rank History for Female students at Polaris Elementary School

Rank History for Male students at Polaris Elementary School

Rank History for White students at Polaris Elementary School

Review counts

Enrollment information for Polaris Elementary School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Polaris Elementary School

Student/Teacher Ratio Polaris Elementary School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Polaris Elementary School

Impact of COVID-19 on Polaris Elementary School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Polaris Elementary School