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Riffenburgh Elementary School

Summary:

Riffenburgh Elementary School is a public elementary school in Fort Collins, Colorado, serving 479 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the Poudre School District R-1, which is ranked 11th out of 116 districts in Colorado and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Riffenburgh Elementary consistently performs above the state and district averages in CMAS assessments, with proficiency rates of 64.4% in English Language Arts and 54.5% in Math, compared to state averages of 44.1% and 34.2%, respectively. The school has a relatively diverse student population, with 74.74% White, 16.08% Hispanic, and 2.51% Asian students, higher than nearby schools like Shepardson Elementary (85.23% White) and Dunn Elementary (78.41% White). Riffenburgh also has a lower percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch (23.38%) compared to schools like Beattie Elementary (53.87%) and Linton Elementary (58.79%), indicating a relatively higher socioeconomic status of its student population.

Riffenburgh's consistent high performance, with a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger for the past several years, suggests a strong academic program and effective teaching practices. However, the school's performance for low-socioeconomic status students and gifted and talented students is relatively lower, ranking in the bottom 40% and bottom 30% of Colorado elementary schools, respectively. While Riffenburgh's overall performance is strong, the school could focus on improving the academic outcomes for these specific student subgroups to ensure equitable opportunities for all students.


Detail:

Public K-5

 1320 East Stuart Street
       Fort Collins, CO  80525-1231

(970) 488-7935

District: Poudre School District R-1

SchoolDigger Rank:
164th of 943 Colorado Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $14,545 Help


Students who attend Riffenburgh Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Lesher Middle School
High:    Fort Collins High School

Student/teacher ratio:  15.7 Help
Number of students:  451

Racial breakdown:

White:
74.3%
Hispanic:
16.2%
Two or more races:
4.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  31.7% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Riffenburgh Elementary School ranks better than 82.6% of elementary schools in Colorado. It also ranks 13th among 30 ranked elementary schools in the Poudre School District R-1. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 80.62. (See more...)
Help
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
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (74.3%), Hispanic (16.2%), two or more races (4.4%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 31.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Riffenburgh Elementary School is 15.7. 25 elementary schools in the Poudre School District R-1 have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Riffenburgh Elementary School employs 28.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Riffenburgh Elementary School is $14,545. 24 elementary schools in the Poudre School District R-1 spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Riffenburgh Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Riffenburgh Elementary School 164th of 943 Colorado public elementary schools. (See Riffenburgh 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:


Poudre School District R-1:

SchoolDigger ranks Poudre School District R-1 11th of 116 Colorado school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Riffenburgh Elementary School?

Rank History for Riffenburgh Elementary School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Riffenburgh Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 78.29 165th 808 79.6%
2005 77.74 171st 823 79.2%
2006 81.20 118th 829 85.8%
2007 75.04 202nd 852 76.3%
2008 66.43 296th 849 65.1%
2009 70.08 266th 872 69.5%
2010 74.01 224th 925 75.8%
2011 78.19 184th 935 80.3%
2012 77.88 184th 935 80.3%
2013 67.30 312th 954 67.3%
2014 75.88 225th 962 76.6%
2015 76.87 186th 938 80.2%
2016 84.48 114th 914 87.5%
2017 84.26 114th 929 87.7%
2018 85.20 114th 917 87.6%
2019 78.62 179th 965 81.5%
2021 75.72 188th 710 73.5%
2022 81.08 156th 921 83.1%
2023 78.46 176th 933 81.1%
2024 80.62 164th 943 82.6%
See the entire list of Colorado Elementary School Rankings!

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

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 64.13 76th 308 75.3%
2019 68.56 64th 332 80.7%
2023 26.56 221st 265 16.6%
2024 41.06 216th 365 40.8%
See the entire list of Best Colorado Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Riffenburgh Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 73.13 155th 690 77.5%
2019 72.03 181st 758 76.1%
2021 62.14 159th 351 54.7%
2022 69.72 161st 595 72.9%
2023 64.26 205th 642 68.1%
2024 72.89 159th 684 76.8%
See the entire list of Best Colorado Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Riffenburgh Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 71.82 22nd 110 80.0%
2023 48.22 58th 82 29.3%
See the entire list of Best Colorado Elementary Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Riffenburgh Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 82.95 98th 693 85.9%
2019 74.31 167th 764 78.1%
2021 70.12 122nd 352 65.3%
2022 77.57 112th 594 81.1%
2023 76.80 133rd 649 79.5%
2024 71.69 172nd 683 74.8%
See the entire list of Best Colorado Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Riffenburgh Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 80.60 51st 337 84.9%
2019 69.93 148th 596 75.2%
2021 66.59 105th 288 63.5%
2022 72.87 108th 454 76.2%
2023 67.57 150th 525 71.4%
2024 69.54 136th 539 74.8%
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.

Riffenburgh Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 
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Data source: Colorado Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a citizen
Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Open Quote I went to that school from K-5th grade and it was a fantastic school. The teachers are all really nice, there's a lot of cool programs and things, great school overall. Lots of great memories in this school. Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Open Quote My daughter is in the middle of her kindergarten year here and I couldn't be happier. The principal and the teaching staff really care and are fully engaged. It is a smaller school which allows a real sense of community. The principal knows all the kids names and has created an atmosphere that focuses on the whole child. They care about academics and my daughter has learned so much already but they also care about physical and emotional health. It is a wellness school so they really incorporate healthy living choices and there are a ton of extracurricular activities that reinforce this like jump rope club, running club, girls basketball......my five year old just participated in free before school yoga! I did a ton of research over schools and got into both Liberty and Dunn but went with my gut and chose Riffenburgh. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Riffenburgh Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 578 3 11 28 5 n/a n/a 0 625
1989 646 8 18 26 2 n/a n/a 0 700
1990 433 6 12 25 1 n/a n/a 0 477
1991 443 5 11 28 1 n/a n/a 0 488
1992 460 5 7 32 0 n/a n/a 0 504
1993 430 3 13 40 0 n/a n/a 0 486
1994 408 6 12 38 3 n/a n/a 0 467
1995 377 11 10 39 0 n/a n/a 0 437
1996 377 11 10 39 0 n/a n/a 0 437
1997 374 14 14 36 0 n/a n/a 0 438
1998 348 10 5 35 1 n/a n/a 0 399
1999 327 15 7 27 1 n/a n/a 0 377
2000 320 14 7 23 0 n/a n/a 0 364
2001 322 19 11 29 0 n/a n/a 0 381
2002 282 17 10 44 3 n/a n/a 0 356
2003 282 17 10 44 3 n/a n/a 0 356
2004 346 14 10 50 7 n/a n/a 0 427
2005 310 7 6 47 5 n/a n/a 0 375
2006 292 6 6 38 4 n/a n/a 0 346
2007 313 5 5 51 9 n/a n/a 0 383
2008 301 9 10 43 5 n/a n/a 0 368
2009 280 12 10 30 4 n/a n/a 0 336
2010 237 10 10 27 6 n/a n/a 0 290
2011 255 1 6 66 2 0 23 0 353
2012 285 3 9 76 0 0 22 0 395
2013 309 5 9 69 0 1 26 0 419
2014 311 4 7 84 4 1 22 0 433
2015 323 4 16 85 2 0 25 0 455
2016 348 3 11 74 2 0 32 0 470
2017 366 4 11 79 1 0 30 0 491
2018 391 9 17 82 3 0 40 0 542
2019 408 6 20 79 5 1 37 0 556
2020 418 5 16 84 3 0 31 0 557
2021 357 5 10 77 1 0 31 0 481
2022 345 5 7 67 4 0 30 0 458
2023 358 6 12 77 3 0 23 0 479
2024 335 11 10 73 1 1 20 0 451

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 Riffenburgh Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 625 28.2 22.1 n/a
1989 700 29.1 24.0 9.6
1990 477 25.1 19.0 3.4
1991 488 24.1 20.2 11.1
1992 504 25.6 19.6 9.9
1993 486 24.1 20.2 9.5
1994 467 22.5 20.8 11.3
1995 437 21.0 20.8 11.7
1996 437 21.0 20.8 11.7
1997 438 21.5 20.4 15.8
1998 399 23.1 17.3 18
1999 377 23.9 15.8 11.4
2000 364 22.9 15.9 20.1
2001 381 22.4 17.0 21.8
2002 356 21.1 16.9 25.3
2003 356 21.1 16.9 25.3
2004 427 23.3 18.3 22.7
2005 375 23.4 16.0 24.5
2006 346 22.2 15.6 23.4
2007 383 20.0 19.2 31.6
2008 368 19.0 19.4 23.4
2009 336 20.1 16.7 26.5
2010 290 17.5 16.5 27.9
2011 353 18.4 19.1 29.7
2012 395 19.0 20.7 31.9
2013 419 21.8 19.1 36
2014 433 23.3 18.5 37.6
2015 455 23.0 19.7 38.9
2016 470 25.0 18.8 33.6
2017 491 30.6 16.0 31.6
2018 542 28.6 18.9 30.8
2019 556 30.0 18.5 28.2
2020 557 32.0 17.4 25.9
2021 481 32.0 15.0 17.3
2022 458 26.8 17.0 19.4
2023 479 27.8 17.2 23.4
2024 451 28.6 15.7 31.7

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 Riffenburgh Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 625 28.2 22.1 n/a
1989 700 29.1 24.0 9.6
1990 477 25.1 19.0 3.4
1991 488 24.1 20.2 11.1
1992 504 25.6 19.6 9.9
1993 486 24.1 20.2 9.5
1994 467 22.5 20.8 11.3
1995 437 21.0 20.8 11.7
1996 437 21.0 20.8 11.7
1997 438 21.5 20.4 15.8
1998 399 23.1 17.3 18
1999 377 23.9 15.8 11.4
2000 364 22.9 15.9 20.1
2001 381 22.4 17.0 21.8
2002 356 21.1 16.9 25.3
2003 356 21.1 16.9 25.3
2004 427 23.3 18.3 22.7
2005 375 23.4 16.0 24.5
2006 346 22.2 15.6 23.4
2007 383 20.0 19.2 31.6
2008 368 19.0 19.4 23.4
2009 336 20.1 16.7 26.5
2010 290 17.5 16.5 27.9
2011 353 18.4 19.1 29.7
2012 395 19.0 20.7 31.9
2013 419 21.8 19.1 36
2014 433 23.3 18.5 37.6
2015 455 23.0 19.7 38.9
2016 470 25.0 18.8 33.6
2017 491 30.6 16.0 31.6
2018 542 28.6 18.9 30.8
2019 556 30.0 18.5 28.2
2020 557 32.0 17.4 25.9
2021 481 32.0 15.0 17.3
2022 458 26.8 17.0 19.4
2023 479 27.8 17.2 23.4
2024 451 28.6 15.7 31.7

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 Riffenburgh Elementary School

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $10,992
2020 $11,176
2021 $12,808
2022 $13,636
2023 $14,545

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Riffenburgh 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 179th of 965 Elementary schoolsRanks 176th of 933 Elementary schools
 0.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Riffenburgh Elementary School)46.450.6
 4.2%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Poudre School District R-1)55.256
 0.8%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)41.339.9
 1.4%
3rd Grade Math (Riffenburgh Elementary School)42.751.8
 9.1%
   3rd Grade Math (Poudre School District R-1)55.254.3
 0.9%
   3rd Grade Math (Colorado)4140.4
 0.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Riffenburgh Elementary School)7073.2
 3.2%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Poudre School District R-1)66.659.1
 7.5%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)4843.8
 4.2%
4th Grade Math (Riffenburgh Elementary School)54.561.1
 6.6%
   4th Grade Math (Poudre School District R-1)53.749.4
 4.3%
   4th Grade Math (Colorado)33.632.7
 0.9%
5th Grade Science (Riffenburgh Elementary School)65.446.6
 18.8%
   5th Grade Science (Poudre School District R-1)51.749.5
 2.2%
   5th Grade Science (Colorado)35.933.9
 2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Riffenburgh Elementary School)71.162.9
 8.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Poudre School District R-1)66.464.3
 2.1%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)48.447.8
 0.6%
5th Grade Math (Riffenburgh Elementary School)60.251.1
 9.1%
   5th Grade Math (Poudre School District R-1)54.552.6
 1.9%
   5th Grade Math (Colorado)35.736.5
 0.8%
All Grades English Language Arts (Riffenburgh Elementary School)61.461.6
 0.2%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Poudre School District R-1)60.658.7
 1.9%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Colorado)45.843.7
 2.1%
All Grades Math (Riffenburgh Elementary School)51.754.3
 2.6%
   All Grades Math (Poudre School District R-1)5249.5
 2.5%
   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 Students556479
 13.8%
African American66
American Indian53
 40%
Asian2012
 40%
Hispanic7977
 2.5%
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White408358
 12.3%
Two or More Races3723
 37.8%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients28.2%23.4%
 4.9%

Schools Near Riffenburgh Elementary School








Frequently Asked Questions about Riffenburgh Elementary School

Students at Riffenburgh Elementary School are 74% White, 16% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% African American, 2% Asian.

In the 2023-24 school year, 451 students attended Riffenburgh Elementary School.

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

Middle : Lesher Middle School
High : Fort Collins High School

Riffenburgh Elementary School ranks 164th 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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