Is Blue Heron Elementary School a good school?

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

How many students attend Blue Heron Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 376 students attended Blue Heron Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Blue Heron Elementary School?

Students at Blue Heron Elementary School are 57% White, 18% Asian, 18% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 2% American Indian, 1% African American.

What schools do graduates of Blue Heron Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Blue Heron Elementary School usually go on to attend: Middle : Summit Ridge Middle School High : Dakota Ridge Senior High School

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:
437^th of 943 Colorado Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,318

Students who attend Blue Heron Elementary School usually attend:

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

Student/teacher ratio: 14.2

Number of students: 376

Racial breakdown:

White:

57.2%

Asian:

17.6%

Hispanic:

17.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 31.9%

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Compare Blue Heron Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Blue Heron Elementary School ranks better than 53.7% of elementary schools in Colorado. It also ranks 54^th among 85 ranked elementary schools in the Jefferson County School District No. R-1. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 50.95. (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 Blue Heron Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Jefferson County School District No. R-1. (See more...)

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Blue Heron Elementary School is $15,318, which is the 43^rd 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 437^th 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 35^th of 116 Colorado school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Blue Heron Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Blue Heron Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CO State Percentile
2004	76.19	184^th	808	77.2%
2005	65.19	314^th	823	61.8%
2006	70.30	255^th	829	69.2%
2007	58.91	388^th	852	54.5%
2008	63.03	335^th	849	60.5%
2009	69.84	269^th	872	69.2%
2010	69.10	297^th	925	67.9%
2011	77.65	189^th	935	79.8%
2012	77.75	187^th	935	80.0%
2013	69.79	283^rd	954	70.3%
2014	75.61	228^th	962	76.3%
2015	75.17	200^th	938	78.7%
2016	65.31	287^th	914	68.6%
2017	61.90	309^th	929	66.7%
2018	68.95	248^th	917	73.0%
2019	59.27	372^nd	965	61.5%
2021	55.67	337^th	710	52.5%
2022	47.14	453^rd	921	50.8%
2023	41.71	499^th	933	46.5%
2024	50.95	437^th	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
2018	53.94	127^th	308	58.8%
2019	41.68	192^nd	332	42.2%
2024	77.19	44^th	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
2018	59.57	244^th	690	64.6%
2019	56.78	305^th	758	59.8%
2024	52.07	308^th	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
2018	63.61	205^th	693	70.4%
2019	51.44	337^th	764	55.9%
2024	50.48	322^nd	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
2018	51.20	153^rd	337	54.6%
2019	36.93	380^th	596	36.2%
2022	26.21	371^st	454	18.3%
2023	19.77	460^th	525	12.4%
2024	30.21	406^th	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.

Data source: Colorado Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Friday, December 4, 2015

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

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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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2002	182	1	21	19	2	n/a	n/a	225
2003	182	1	21	19	2	n/a	n/a	225
2004	236	2	36	32	3	n/a	n/a	309
2005	297	4	48	50	3	n/a	n/a	402
2006	355	4	65	56	2	n/a	n/a	482
2007	347	5	71	71	2	n/a	n/a	496
2008	362	7	69	76	3	n/a	n/a	517
2009	371	4	74	79	0	n/a	n/a	528
2010	340	3	69	80	4	n/a	n/a	496
2011	333	3	70	98	0	0	11	515
2012	337	2	64	98	0	1	12	514
2013	360	0	73	104	0	1	18	556
2014	354	1	80	91	3	0	16	545
2015	341	2	75	84	3	0	23	528
2016	327	3	72	74	2	0	23	501
2017	329	4	76	92	3	0	17	521
2018	300	3	81	92	3	0	20	499
2019	283	3	84	81	4	0	22	477
2020	244	1	64	63	5	0	22	399
2021	229	1	58	70	6	0	21	385
2022	232	0	59	70	5	0	17	383
2023	215	4	66	66	7	1	17	376

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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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

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

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

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

Year	Total 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 372^nd of 965 Elementary schools	Ranks 499^th 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)	35.8	42.2	6.4%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)	46.3	48.2	1.9%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)	41.3	39.9	1.4%
3rd Grade Math (Blue Heron Elementary School)	48.1	37.8	10.3%
3rd Grade Math (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)	45.7	48.1	2.4%
3rd Grade Math (Colorado)	41	40.4	0.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Blue Heron Elementary School)	62.3	42.2	20.1%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)	56	53.5	2.5%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)	48	43.8	4.2%
4th Grade Math (Blue Heron Elementary School)	34.4	35.9	1.5%
4th Grade Math (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)	38.5	39.9	1.4%
4th Grade Math (Colorado)	33.6	32.7	0.9%
5th Grade Science (Blue Heron Elementary School)	32	18.9	13.1%
5th Grade Science (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)	41.6	41.6
5th Grade Science (Colorado)	35.9	33.9	2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Blue Heron Elementary School)	50	35.1	14.9%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)	53.6	55.6	2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)	48.4	47.8	0.6%
5th Grade Math (Blue Heron Elementary School)	31.1	27.8	3.3%
5th Grade Math (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)	39.4	41.7	2.3%
5th Grade Math (Colorado)	35.7	36.5	0.8%
All Grades English Language Arts (Blue Heron Elementary School)	55.2	40.4	14.8%
All Grades English Language Arts (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)	51.7	50.8	0.9%
All Grades English Language Arts (Colorado)	45.8	43.7	2.1%
All Grades Math (Blue Heron Elementary School)	41.3	34.5	6.8%
All Grades Math (Jefferson County School District No. R-1)	39.8	38.7	1.1%
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	477	376	21.2%
African American	3	4	33.3%
American Indian	4	7	75%
Asian	84	66	21.4%
Hispanic	81	66	18.5%
Pacific Islander	0	1
White	283	215	24%
Two or More Races	22	17	22.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	24.7%	31.9%	7.2%

Schools Near Blue Heron 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 8th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts All Grades	CMAS Math 3rd Grade	CMAS Math 4th Grade	CMAS Math 5th Grade	CMAS Math 6th Grade	CMAS Math All Grades	CMAS Science 5th Grade	Total
Blue Heron Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5987 West Dorado Drive	Littleton	80123	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	No	(303) 982-2770	376	26	14.2	31.9%	215 (57.2%)	4 (1.1%)	66 (17.6%)	66 (17.6%)	7 (1.9%)	1 (0.3%)	17 (4.5%)	50.9	437^th of 943 public elementary schools	53.7%		41.7	499^th of 933 public elementary schools	46.5%	62	36.8	43.2	54.0				45.1	39.7	36.4	34.4		36.7	44.4	$15,318
Grant Ranch Ece-8 School	Public	PK, KG-8	5400 South Jay Circle	Denver	80123	Jefferson County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 424-6880	302	23	13.0	71.2%	87 (28.8%)	19 (6.3%)	164 (54.3%)	15 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (5.6%)	22.2	709^th of 943 public elementary schools	24.8%		24.9	673^rd of 933 public elementary schools	27.9%	36	14.8	10.0	37.5	22.6	39.5	26.7	25.6	18.5	10.0	45.8	9.7	13.9	41.7	$19,857
Leawood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	6155 West Leawood Drive	Littleton	80123	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	No	(303) 982-7860	344	18	19.3	31.4%	253 (73.5%)	4 (1.2%)	51 (14.8%)	15 (4.4%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (5.2%)	66.3	303^rd of 943 public elementary schools	67.9%		63.2	317^th of 933 public elementary schools	66.0%	14	58.1	64.9	58.2				60.0	60.5	27.0	43.6		44.4	40.0	$15,201
Wilder Elementary School	Public	K-5	4300 West Ponds Circle	Littleton	80123	Jefferson County	Littleton School District No. 6	No	No	No	No	(303) 347-4750	601	32	18.9	6.0%	485 (80.7%)	5 (0.8%)	58 (9.7%)	27 (4.5%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (3.8%)	89.7	81^st of 943 public elementary schools	91.4%		86.3	104^th of 933 public elementary schools	88.9%	23	52.7	70.7	74.2				66.0	62.4	70.7	77.3		70.2	71.1	$14,305
Normandy Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6750 South Kendall Boulevard	Littleton	80128	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	No	(303) 982-4766	263	19	13.9	17.9%	220 (83.7%)	1 (0.4%)	22 (8.4%)	10 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.8%)	76.4	199^th of 943 public elementary schools	78.9%		77.3	187^th of 933 public elementary schools	80.0%	12	79.4	66.7	53.6				67.3	85.7	51.2	32.1		57.5	39.3	$17,714
Centennial Academy of Fine Arts Education	Public	PK, KG-5	3306 West Berry Avenue	Littleton	80123	Jefferson County	Littleton School District No. 6	No	No	No	Yes	(303) 347-4425	370	27	13.8	31.6%	216 (58.4%)	2 (0.5%)	112 (30.3%)	6 (1.6%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (8.6%)	29.8	615^th of 943 public elementary schools	34.8%		34	569^th of 933 public elementary schools	39.0%	46	31.8	35.4	35.4				34.3	40.0	20.4	25.0		28.2	22.9	$19,300
Kaiser Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4500 South Quitman Street	Denver	80236	Denver County	School District No. 1	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 424-6210	225	20	11.0	80.0%	60 (26.7%)	10 (4.4%)	133 (59.1%)	12 (5.3%)	3 (1.3%)	1 (0.4%)	6 (2.7%)	22.6	701^st of 943 public elementary schools	25.7%		25.6	664^th of 933 public elementary schools	28.8%	37	18.8	37.5	38.7				31.0	15.6	12.5	20.0		16.3	31.0	$24,704
Dutch Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7304 West Roxbury Place	Littleton	80128	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	No	(303) 982-4565	294	18	16.3	39.8%	225 (76.5%)	1 (0.3%)	51 (17.3%)	3 (1.0%)	5 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.1%)	60	367^th of 943 public elementary schools	61.1%		54.5	395^th of 933 public elementary schools	57.7%	28	44.4	40.0	61.4				48.8	44.4	42.5	50.0		45.7	39.5	$15,068
Governor's Ranch Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5354 South Field Street	Littleton	80123	Jefferson County	Jefferson County School District No. R-1	No	No	No	No	(303) 982-4625	344	22	15.9	21.2%	253 (73.5%)	7 (2.0%)	51 (14.8%)	13 (3.8%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	17 (4.9%)	78.3	180^th of 943 public elementary schools	80.9%		73	224^th of 933 public elementary schools	76.0%	44	54.4	68.3	73.1				65.1	50.0	57.4	43.4		50.6	55.6	$15,221
Alice Terry Elementary School	Public	K-2	4485 S. Irving St.	Englewood	80110	Arapahoe County	Sheridan School District No. 2	No	No	No	Yes	(720) 833-6990	193	10	20.3	90.7%	28 (14.5%)	9 (4.7%)	145 (75.1%)	6 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	4 (2.1%)								(n/a)														$24,176

Blue Heron Elementary School

Blue Heron Elementary School:

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Jefferson County School District No. R-1:

Average Parent Rating:

What do you think?

Rank History for Blue Heron Elementary School

Rank History for all students at Blue Heron Elementary School

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

Rank History for Female students at Blue Heron Elementary School

Rank History for Male students at Blue Heron Elementary School

Rank History for White students at Blue Heron Elementary School

Review counts

Enrollment information for Blue Heron Elementary School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Blue Heron Elementary School

Student/Teacher Ratio Blue Heron Elementary School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Blue Heron Elementary School

Impact of COVID-19 on Blue Heron Elementary School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Blue Heron Elementary School

Frequently Asked Questions about Blue Heron Elementary School

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