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Brighton, Colorado City HallPhoto: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 3.0
B−
Schools in Brighton · School District 27J

Brighton’s public schools outscore 51% of Colorado districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Brighton, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. 22% of students in Brighton’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Colorado average (32%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Colorado, not nationally.

#113of 159 Colorado townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Colorado state tests taken in spring 2022, when 91% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
34%
▼ 11 pts vs CO 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
22%
▼ 10 pts vs CO 32%
2021–22
Graduate on time
88%
▲ 5 pts vs CO 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.0K
▼ 18% vs CO $15.9K
FY2024
Students per teacher
19.0
CO 16.3 · larger classes
Schools in town
19
8,357 students on the public path
In brief

Brighton’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 141 Colorado towns with household incomes within a quarter of Brighton’s, its schools beat 28%, lower than their 51% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 34% of tested students were proficient in reading and 22% in math, against 45% and 32% statewide; 91% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

88% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83% across Colorado. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $12,959 per student, against $15,889 across Colorado (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Six elementary schools, then three middle and two high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is up 26% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Bromley East Charter School, Foundations Academy, Eagle Ridge Academy, Zion Lutheran School (private) and Brighton Adventist Academy (private) are in town. 27J Online Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Brighton’s grade

C+ Test scoresB+ Graduation

B−: better than 51% of Colorado school districts, #113 of 159 Colorado towns. Graduation is above the Colorado average; test scores are below it.

Colorado school districts we grade (169)Better than 51%
Lower resultsHigher results
Colorado towns with similar household incomes (141)Better than 28%
B−BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 9,812 test results and a graduating class of 1,620 could put Brighton anywhere from B− to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 91% of Brighton’s students in the tested grades sat them (9,789 in math, 9,835 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Brighton, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–56 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD− to C+
6–83 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC− to C+
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B−

Brighton’s public schools are run by School District 27J, which also serves Commerce City and Thornton. Parts of Brighton (3% of its land) are served by Weld County School District RE-8 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

School District 27JGrades PK–12 · 33 schools · 24,044 students, up 26% since 2020–21 · 19.0 per teacher (CO 16.3)
$12,959CO $15,889 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading34%
State average 44.9% · 9835 students tested
Math22%
State average 31.8% · 9789 students tested

Brighton vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Colorado towns that share Brighton’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BrightonB−School District 27J
Commerce CityC+School District 27J PK–12 · Adams County School District 14 PK–12
LochbuieC+Weld County School District RE-3J
Fort LuptonC+Weld County School District RE-8

Every school in Brighton

20 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Colorado’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Brightonby address
Elaine S. Padilla Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
672 students19:1Rate it →
Mary E Pennock Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C+
592 students16:1Rate it →
Southeast Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C−
527 students16:1Rate it →
Northeast Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
470 students15:1Rate it →
Henderson Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Henderson
C−
357 students15:1Rate it →
South Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
D−
337 students15:1Rate it →
Bright Beginnings
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
72 students14:1Rate it →
Prairie View Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Henderson
C+
679 students19:1Rate it →
Overland Trail Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C−
581 students15:1Rate it →
Vikan Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C−
528 students13:1Rate it →
Prairie View High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Henderson
C+
1,809 students21:1Rate it →
Brighton High School
High · Grades 9–12
B−
1,733 students19:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Innovations & Options
High · Grades 6–12
C
Alternative Education
235 students14:1Rate it →
Prairie Vista Youth Services Center
Grades 4–12
B−
Alternative Education
32 students7:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Bromley East Charter School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
C+
Charter
1,214 students29:1Rate it →
Foundations Academy
Elementary · Grades K–8
B+
Charter
763 studentsRate it →
Eagle Ridge Academy
High · Grades 9–12
A
Charter
593 students25:1Rate it →
Online schools based in Brightonnot counted as local schools
27J Online Academy
High · Grades 6–12
Online
336 students16:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Zion Lutheran School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
267 students17:1Rate it →
Brighton Adventist Academy
Grades PK–10
Private · Religious
54 students9:1Rate it →

Questions about Brighton’s schools

Are Brighton’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Colorado: the public schools Brighton children attend outscore 51% of Colorado’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #113 of 159 Colorado towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 28%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Brighton in?

School District 27J, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 24,044 students in 33 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Brighton are served by Weld County School District RE-8.

Where do Brighton kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Prairie View High School and Brighton High School.

What is Brighton’s graduation rate?

88% of the class of 2023 in School District 27J graduated in four years, against 83% across Colorado.

How much does Brighton spend per student?

$12,959 in School District 27J (FY2024), against $15,889 across Colorado. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Brighton?

Yes: Zion Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 267 students) and Brighton Adventist Academy (religious, grades PK–10, 54 students). Brighton also has 3 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Brighton families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Brighton → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Colorado. Stars are from neighbors.