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McElwain Elementary School

Summary:

McElwain Elementary School is a public elementary school in Thornton, Colorado, serving 369 students in grades K-5 as part of the Adams 12 Five Star Schools district.

While McElwain has a significantly higher percentage of Hispanic students (62.6%) compared to surrounding schools, its academic performance is significantly lower than district and state averages. In 2022-2023, only 13.6% of students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, and just 5.8% were proficient or better in math, compared to district averages of 40.9% and 32%, respectively. McElwain has consistently ranked in the bottom 10% of Colorado elementary schools over the past 10 years, making it one of the lowest-performing schools in the state. The school also has an exceptionally high rate of free and reduced-price lunch recipients, ranging from 78.73% to 89.16% over the past 3 years, suggesting significant socioeconomic challenges.

Despite having a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 13.6 to 14.1 over the past 3 years, McElwain's academic struggles persist. The school's high percentage of Hispanic students, combined with its low performance, indicates that it may be struggling to meet the needs of its diverse student population. Addressing these issues will require a comprehensive, data-driven approach that targets the specific needs of the school and its students. Nearby schools, such as Monterey Community School, Thornton Elementary School, and Welby Community School of the Arts, also face challenges, but McElwain stands out as the lowest-performing school in the Adams 12 Five Star Schools district.


Detail:

Public K-5

 1020 Dawson Drive
       Thornton, CO  80229-4909

(720) 972-5500

District: Adams 12 Five Star Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $17,836 Help


Students who attend McElwain Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Thornton Middle School
High:    Thornton High School

Student/teacher ratio:  14.1 Help
Number of students:  369

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
62.6%
White:
17.6%
Asian:
16.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  89.2% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details McElwain Elementary School is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 5.64. (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 McElwain Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Adams 12 Five Star Schools District.  (See more...)
Teachers
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at McElwain Elementary School is $17,836, which is the 8th highest among 32 elementary schools in the Adams 12 Five Star Schools District.
Schooldigger Rankings:

McElwain Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Adams 12 Five Star Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Adams 12 Five Star Schools 53rd of 116 Colorado school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for McElwain Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at McElwain Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 4.14 774th 808 4.2%
2005 12.98 725th 823 11.9%
2006 4.18 805th 829 2.9%
2007 2.91 838th 852 1.6%
2008 2.36 838th 849 1.3%
2009 4.60 838th 872 3.9%
2010 5.33 888th 925 4.0%
2011 4.31 913th 935 2.4%
2012 5.37 910th 935 2.7%
2013 6.85 903rd 954 5.3%
2014 6.45 939th 962 2.4%
2015 7.52 931st 938 0.7%
2016 7.55 895th 914 2.1%
2017 6.67 918th 929 1.2%
2018 6.82 908th 917 1.0%
2019 12.29 877th 965 9.1%
2022 7.46 905th 921 1.7%
2023 5.64 928th 933 0.5%
See the entire list of Colorado Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Female students at McElwain Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 7.08 747th 758 1.5%
See the entire list of Best Colorado Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at McElwain Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 13.89 684th 764 10.5%
See the entire list of Best Colorado Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at McElwain Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CO State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 26.35 218th 270 19.3%
See the entire list of Best Colorado Elementary Schools for Hispanic 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.

McElwain Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
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District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
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Data source: Colorado Department of Education

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Enrollment information for McElwain 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 208 5 14 120 1 n/a n/a 0 348
1989 284 12 12 163 4 n/a n/a 0 475
1990 331 13 9 166 4 n/a n/a 0 523
1991 328 18 10 155 7 n/a n/a 0 518
1992 304 19 10 178 8 n/a n/a 0 519
1993 293 13 11 201 4 n/a n/a 0 522
1994 302 12 10 215 1 n/a n/a 0 540
1995 257 30 3 285 4 n/a n/a 0 579
1996 257 30 3 285 4 n/a n/a 0 579
1997 208 21 2 295 3 n/a n/a 0 529
1998 180 28 12 299 3 n/a n/a 0 522
1999 189 22 13 316 4 n/a n/a 0 544
2000 153 8 9 307 5 n/a n/a 0 482
2001 138 14 3 369 0 n/a n/a 0 524
2002 77 17 4 321 0 n/a n/a 0 419
2003 77 17 4 321 0 n/a n/a 0 419
2004 66 15 2 300 3 n/a n/a 0 386
2005 60 11 4 322 4 n/a n/a 0 401
2006 54 11 3 332 9 n/a n/a 0 409
2007 44 10 0 333 8 n/a n/a 0 395
2008 53 17 0 411 2 n/a n/a 0 483
2009 56 27 3 357 7 n/a n/a 0 450
2010 54 24 3 405 4 n/a n/a 0 490
2011 71 6 1 390 1 0 3 0 472
2012 46 17 2 366 3 0 5 0 439
2013 55 24 6 328 5 0 9 0 427
2014 52 24 2 346 8 0 11 0 443
2015 42 19 0 360 6 0 12 0 439
2016 45 19 0 357 3 0 11 0 435
2017 57 15 3 333 2 0 10 0 420
2018 67 19 7 355 4 0 5 0 457
2019 70 18 25 300 3 1 6 0 423
2020 65 18 39 298 3 1 7 0 431
2021 59 11 38 255 1 2 5 0 371
2022 66 7 38 243 2 1 5 0 362
2023 65 4 61 231 0 0 8 0 369

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 McElwain Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 348 19.7 17.6 n/a
1989 475 23.9 19.8 45.7
1990 523 25.3 20.6 46.7
1991 518 27.5 18.8 47.7
1992 519 27.0 19.2 49.3
1993 522 25.1 20.8 45.2
1994 540 26.4 20.5 51.5
1995 579 22.4 25.8 53.5
1996 579 22.4 25.8 53.5
1997 529 26.6 19.9 58
1998 522 26.8 19.5 61.7
1999 544 29.4 18.5 61.9
2000 482 32.2 15.0 66.8
2001 524 32.1 16.3 67.6
2002 419 28.0 15.0 76.1
2003 419 28.0 15.0 76.1
2004 386 25.8 15.0 79.5
2005 401 25.2 15.9 83
2006 409 27.2 15.0 85.6
2007 395 21.0 18.8 80.3
2008 483 27.0 17.9 79.3
2009 450 26.5 17.0 90.4
2010 490 28.0 17.4 93.1
2011 472 30.5 15.4 94.7
2012 439 25.0 17.5 93.4
2013 427 24.5 17.4 92
2014 443 26.5 16.7 91.9
2015 439 26.0 16.8 81.1
2016 435 26.0 16.7 81.8
2017 420 25.0 16.8 79.8
2018 457 26.2 17.4 82.7
2019 423 24.5 17.2 77.3
2020 431 25.7 16.7 79.1
2021 371 27.2 13.6 83.8
2022 362 26.0 13.9 78.7
2023 369 26.0 14.1 89.2

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 McElwain Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 348 19.7 17.6 n/a
1989 475 23.9 19.8 45.7
1990 523 25.3 20.6 46.7
1991 518 27.5 18.8 47.7
1992 519 27.0 19.2 49.3
1993 522 25.1 20.8 45.2
1994 540 26.4 20.5 51.5
1995 579 22.4 25.8 53.5
1996 579 22.4 25.8 53.5
1997 529 26.6 19.9 58
1998 522 26.8 19.5 61.7
1999 544 29.4 18.5 61.9
2000 482 32.2 15.0 66.8
2001 524 32.1 16.3 67.6
2002 419 28.0 15.0 76.1
2003 419 28.0 15.0 76.1
2004 386 25.8 15.0 79.5
2005 401 25.2 15.9 83
2006 409 27.2 15.0 85.6
2007 395 21.0 18.8 80.3
2008 483 27.0 17.9 79.3
2009 450 26.5 17.0 90.4
2010 490 28.0 17.4 93.1
2011 472 30.5 15.4 94.7
2012 439 25.0 17.5 93.4
2013 427 24.5 17.4 92
2014 443 26.5 16.7 91.9
2015 439 26.0 16.8 81.1
2016 435 26.0 16.7 81.8
2017 420 25.0 16.8 79.8
2018 457 26.2 17.4 82.7
2019 423 24.5 17.2 77.3
2020 431 25.7 16.7 79.1
2021 371 27.2 13.6 83.8
2022 362 26.0 13.9 78.7
2023 369 26.0 14.1 89.2

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 McElwain Elementary School

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $11,710
2020 $12,637
2021 $15,083
2022 $15,686
2023 $17,836

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

Impact of COVID-19 on McElwain 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 877th of 965 Elementary schoolsRanks 928th of 933 Elementary schools
 8.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (McElwain Elementary School)22.710.2
 12.5%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Adams 12 Five Star Schools)38.238.7
 0.5%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)41.339.9
 1.4%
3rd Grade Math (McElwain Elementary School)15.26.6
 8.6%
   3rd Grade Math (Adams 12 Five Star Schools)35.335.8
 0.5%
   3rd Grade Math (Colorado)4140.4
 0.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (McElwain Elementary School)23.816.4
 7.4%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Adams 12 Five Star Schools)46.543.5
 3%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)4843.8
 4.2%
5th Grade Science (McElwain Elementary School)15.35.4
 9.9%
   5th Grade Science (Adams 12 Five Star Schools)39.832
 7.8%
   5th Grade Science (Colorado)35.933.9
 2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (McElwain Elementary School)2714.5
 12.5%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Adams 12 Five Star Schools)49.244.2
 5%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)48.447.8
 0.6%
All Grades English Language Arts (McElwain Elementary School)24.613.6
 11%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Adams 12 Five Star Schools)44.740.9
 3.8%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Colorado)45.843.7
 2.1%
All Grades Math (McElwain Elementary School)13.45.8
 7.6%
   All Grades Math (Adams 12 Five Star Schools)3532
 3%
   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 Students423369
 12.8%
African American184
 77.8%
American Indian30
 100%
Asian2561
 144%
Hispanic300231
 23%
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White7065
 7.1%
Two or More Races68
 33.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients77.3%89.2%
 11.9%

Schools Near McElwain Elementary School








Frequently Asked Questions about McElwain Elementary School

In the 2022-23 school year, 369 students attended McElwain Elementary School.

Students at McElwain Elementary School are 63% Hispanic, 18% White, 17% Asian, 2% Two or more races, 1% African American.

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

Middle : Thornton Middle School
High : Thornton 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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