Blue Heron Elementary School

Summary:

Blue Heron Elementary School is a public elementary school in Littleton, Colorado, serving 376 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Jefferson County School District No. R-1, which is ranked 35 out of 116 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating.

Blue Heron has a more diverse student population compared to nearby schools, with higher percentages of Hispanic (17.55%) and Asian (17.55%) students. The school also has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 24.28% to 31.91% over the past three years, which is higher than schools like Montessori Peaks Charter Academy (6.83%) and Wilder Elementary (5.99%). However, Blue Heron has a lower student-teacher ratio, ranging from 14.2 to 15.5, which is better than nearby schools like Leawood Elementary (19.3) and Wilder Elementary (18.9).

Academically, Blue Heron's performance, as measured by CMAS test scores, is generally lower than the district and state averages across various subjects and grade levels. For example, in 2023-2024, the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math for all grades were 45.1% and 36.7%, respectively, compared to the Jefferson County School District No. R-1's 51.8% and 40.7%, and the state's 44.1% and 34.2%. The school's statewide ranking has also declined over the years, from 200 out of 938 Colorado elementary schools in 2013-2014 to 437 out of 943 in 2023-2024. These performance gaps may be influenced by the school's higher percentage of students from diverse backgrounds and lower socioeconomic status, which are factors that can impact academic achievement.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 5987 West Dorado Drive
       Littleton, CO  80123-6314


(303) 982-2770

District: Jefferson County School District No. R-1

SchoolDigger Rank:
437th of 943 Colorado Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $15,318 Help


Students who attend Blue Heron Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Summit Ridge Middle School
High:    Dakota Ridge Senior High School

Student/teacher ratio:  12.7 Help
Number of students:  333

Racial breakdown:

White:
60.1%
Hispanic:
18.0%
Asian:
15.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  33% Help


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 Compare Blue Heron Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Blue Heron Elementary School ranks better than 53.7% of elementary schools in Colorado. It also ranks 54th among 85 ranked elementary schools in the Jefferson County School District No. R-1. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 50.95. (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
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Compare Details Student population at Blue Heron Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (60.1%), Hispanic (18%), Asian (15.9%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 33% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Blue Heron Elementary School is 12.7, which is the 5th best among 85 elementary schools in the Jefferson County School District No. R-1. (See more...)
Help
Compare Blue Heron Elementary School employs 26.2 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Blue Heron Elementary School is $15,318, which is the 44th highest among 85 elementary schools in the Jefferson County School District No. R-1.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Blue Heron Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Blue Heron Elementary School 437th of 943 Colorado public elementary schools. (See Blue Heron 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:


Jefferson County School District No. R-1:

SchoolDigger ranks Jefferson County School District No. R-1 35th of 116 Colorado school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Blue Heron Elementary School?

Rank History for Blue Heron Elementary School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Blue Heron Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 76.19 184th 808 77.2%
2005 65.19 314th 823 61.8%
2006 70.30 255th 829 69.2%
2007 58.91 388th 852 54.5%
2008 63.03 335th 849 60.5%
2009 69.84 269th 872 69.2%
2010 69.10 297th 925 67.9%
2011 77.65 189th 935 79.8%
2012 77.75 187th 935 80.0%
2013 69.79 283rd 954 70.3%
2014 75.61 228th 962 76.3%
2015 75.17 200th 938 78.7%
2016 65.31 287th 914 68.6%
2017 61.90 309th 929 66.7%
2018 68.95 248th 917 73.0%
2019 59.27 372nd 965 61.5%
2021 55.67 337th 710 52.5%
2022 47.14 453rd 921 50.8%
2023 41.71 499th 933 46.5%
2024 50.95 437th 943 53.7%
See the entire list of Colorado Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Blue Heron Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 53.94 127th 308 58.8%
2019 41.68 192nd 332 42.2%
2024 77.19 44th 365 87.9%
See the entire list of Best Colorado Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Blue Heron Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 59.57 244th 690 64.6%
2019 56.78 305th 758 59.8%
2024 52.07 308th 684 55.0%
See the entire list of Best Colorado Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Blue Heron Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 63.61 205th 693 70.4%
2019 51.44 337th 764 55.9%
2024 50.48 322nd 683 52.9%
See the entire list of Best Colorado Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Blue Heron Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 51.20 153rd 337 54.6%
2019 36.93 380th 596 36.2%
2022 26.21 371st 454 18.3%
2023 19.77 460th 525 12.4%
2024 30.21 406th 539 24.7%
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.

Blue Heron 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: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Friday, December 4, 2015

Open Quote Our children are thriving at Blue Heron & love school! The amazing teachers and staff at this school care so much about the whole child, while creating an environment to support our kids academic growth. The school draws from several different neighborhoods & also has a considerable number of students who choice enroll. The active PTA raises substantial funds each year to support the school budget. The leadership team is fantastic,responsive & supportive. Our new Principal & Vice Principal are building on our existing sense of community in wonderful ways & have high expectations for our kids! Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, December 3, 2015

Open Quote Great school - The staff is wonderful and promotes an excellent learning environment for my kids. Keep up the great work! Close Quote



Enrollment information for Blue Heron Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2002 182 1 21 19 2 n/a n/a 0 225
2003 182 1 21 19 2 n/a n/a 0 225
2004 236 2 36 32 3 n/a n/a 0 309
2005 297 4 48 50 3 n/a n/a 0 402
2006 355 4 65 56 2 n/a n/a 0 482
2007 347 5 71 71 2 n/a n/a 0 496
2008 362 7 69 76 3 n/a n/a 0 517
2009 371 4 74 79 0 n/a n/a 0 528
2010 340 3 69 80 4 n/a n/a 0 496
2011 333 3 70 98 0 0 11 0 515
2012 337 2 64 98 0 1 12 0 514
2013 360 0 73 104 0 1 18 0 556
2014 354 1 80 91 3 0 16 0 545
2015 341 2 75 84 3 0 23 0 528
2016 327 3 72 74 2 0 23 0 501
2017 329 4 76 92 3 0 17 0 521
2018 300 3 81 92 3 0 20 0 499
2019 283 3 84 81 4 0 22 0 477
2020 244 1 64 63 5 0 22 0 399
2021 229 1 58 70 6 0 21 0 385
2022 232 0 59 70 5 0 17 0 383
2023 215 4 66 66 7 1 17 0 376
2024 200 2 53 60 4 1 13 0 333

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 Blue Heron Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2002 225 9.9 22.7 7.1
2003 225 9.9 22.7 7.1
2004 309 11.7 26.4 7.1
2005 402 16.5 24.4 7.2
2006 482 21.1 22.8 11.6
2007 496 24.2 20.5 11.9
2008 517 27.3 18.9 9.9
2009 528 27.3 19.3 10.4
2010 496 27.0 18.3 11.3
2011 515 25.8 19.9 14
2012 514 26.0 19.7 12.6
2013 556 26.5 20.9 15.6
2014 545 29.0 18.7 17.4
2015 528 28.0 18.8 16.3
2016 501 28.0 17.8 18.4
2017 521 29.4 17.6 23.4
2018 499 26.7 18.6 24.6
2019 477 28.2 16.8 24.7
2020 399 25.6 15.5 22.8
2021 385 25.1 15.2 26
2022 383 24.7 15.5 24.3
2023 376 26.4 14.2 31.9
2024 333 26.2 12.7 33

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 Blue Heron Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2002 225 9.9 22.7 7.1
2003 225 9.9 22.7 7.1
2004 309 11.7 26.4 7.1
2005 402 16.5 24.4 7.2
2006 482 21.1 22.8 11.6
2007 496 24.2 20.5 11.9
2008 517 27.3 18.9 9.9
2009 528 27.3 19.3 10.4
2010 496 27.0 18.3 11.3
2011 515 25.8 19.9 14
2012 514 26.0 19.7 12.6
2013 556 26.5 20.9 15.6
2014 545 29.0 18.7 17.4
2015 528 28.0 18.8 16.3
2016 501 28.0 17.8 18.4
2017 521 29.4 17.6 23.4
2018 499 26.7 18.6 24.6
2019 477 28.2 16.8 24.7
2020 399 25.6 15.5 22.8
2021 385 25.1 15.2 26
2022 383 24.7 15.5 24.3
2023 376 26.4 14.2 31.9
2024 333 26.2 12.7 33

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 Blue Heron Elementary School

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $11,176
2020 $12,159
2021 $11,958
2022 $13,327
2023 $15,318

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Blue Heron 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 372nd of 965 Elementary schoolsRanks 499th of 933 Elementary schools
 14.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Blue Heron Elementary School)35.842.2
 6.4%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)46.348.2
 1.9%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)41.339.9
 1.4%
3rd Grade Math (Blue Heron Elementary School)48.137.8
 10.3%
   3rd Grade Math (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)45.748.1
 2.4%
   3rd Grade Math (Colorado)4140.4
 0.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Blue Heron Elementary School)62.342.2
 20.1%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)5653.5
 2.5%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)4843.8
 4.2%
4th Grade Math (Blue Heron Elementary School)34.435.9
 1.5%
   4th Grade Math (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)38.539.9
 1.4%
   4th Grade Math (Colorado)33.632.7
 0.9%
5th Grade Science (Blue Heron Elementary School)3218.9
 13.1%
   5th Grade Science (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)41.641.6
   5th Grade Science (Colorado)35.933.9
 2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Blue Heron Elementary School)5035.1
 14.9%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)53.655.6
 2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)48.447.8
 0.6%
5th Grade Math (Blue Heron Elementary School)31.127.8
 3.3%
   5th Grade Math (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)39.441.7
 2.3%
   5th Grade Math (Colorado)35.736.5
 0.8%
All Grades English Language Arts (Blue Heron Elementary School)55.240.4
 14.8%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)51.750.8
 0.9%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Colorado)45.843.7
 2.1%
All Grades Math (Blue Heron Elementary School)41.334.5
 6.8%
   All Grades Math (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)39.838.7
 1.1%
   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 Students477376
 21.2%
African American34
 33.3%
American Indian47
 75%
Asian8466
 21.4%
Hispanic8166
 18.5%
Pacific Islander01
White283215
 24%
Two or More Races2217
 22.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients24.7%31.9%
 7.2%


Schools Near Blue Heron Elementary School









Frequently Asked Questions about Blue Heron Elementary School

Blue Heron Elementary School ranks 437th of 943 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

In the 2023-24 school year, 333 students attended Blue Heron Elementary School.

Students at Blue Heron Elementary School are 60% White, 18% Hispanic, 16% Asian, 4% Two or more races, 1% American Indian.

Students who attend Blue Heron Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Summit Ridge Middle School
High : Dakota Ridge Senior 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.





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