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Bradford House IIBradford House II · Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 3.0
A−
Schools in Dakota Ridge · Jefferson County School District R-1

Dakota Ridge’s public schools outscore 78% of Colorado districts

In Dakota Ridge, 38% of tested students are proficient in math, above the Colorado average (32%). The grade covers the public school district serving Dakota Ridge, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Colorado, not nationally.

#55of 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
52%
▲ 7 pts vs CO 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
38%
▲ 6 pts vs CO 32%
2021–22
Graduate on time
84%
▲ 1 pts vs CO 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.3K
▼ 4% vs CO $15.9K
FY2024
Students per teacher
16.9
CO 16.3 · larger classes
Schools in town
11
4,999 students on the public path
In brief

Dakota Ridge’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 122 Colorado towns with household incomes within a quarter of Dakota Ridge’s, its schools beat 48%, lower than their 78% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 52% and math 38% in spring 2022, against 45% and 32% statewide; 84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,276 per student, against $15,889 across Colorado (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Four elementary schools, then two middle schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Rocky Mountain Deaf School, Abiding Hope Preschool (private), Foothills Christian Preschool & Kindergarten (private) and Primrose School of Ken Caryl (private) are in town. 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 Dakota Ridge’s grade

A Test scoresC+ Graduation

A−: better than 78% of Colorado school districts, #55 of 159 Colorado towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Colorado average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Colorado school districts we grade (169)Better than 78%
Lower resultsHigher results
Colorado towns with similar household incomes (122)Better than 48%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 35,226 test results and a graduating class of 6,154 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 91% of Dakota Ridge’s students in the tested grades sat them (35,276 in math, 35,177 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–54 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A
6–122 schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A+

Dakota Ridge’s public schools are run by Jefferson County School District R-1, which also serves Arvada, Bow Mar, Edgewater and Golden and others. 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.

Jefferson County School District R-1Grades PK–12 · 144 schools · 73,532 students · 16.9 per teacher (CO 16.3)
$15,276CO $15,889 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading52%
State average 44.9% · 35177 students tested
Math38%
State average 31.8% · 35276 students tested

Dakota Ridge vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Dakota RidgeA−Jefferson County School District R-1
LakewoodA−Jefferson County School District R-1

Every school in Dakota Ridge

11 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 Dakota Ridgeby address
Powderhorn Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Littleton
B
522 students16:1Rate it →
Westridge Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Littleton
A
400 students17:1Rate it →
Kendallvue Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Morrison
B−
370 students15:1Rate it →
Mount Carbon Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Littleton
B+
367 students16:1Rate it →
D'Evelyn Junior/Senior High School
High · Grades 6–12 · Denver
A+
1,212 students21:1Rate it →
Summit Ridge Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Littleton
B−
851 students20:1Rate it →
Dakota Ridge Senior High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Littleton
A
1,277 students19:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Rocky Mountain Deaf School
Grades PK–12 · Denver
C−
CharterSpecial Education
82 students4:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Abiding Hope Preschool
Elementary · Grades PK–K · Littleton
Private · Religious
330 studentsRate it →
Foothills Christian Preschool & Kindergarten
Elementary · Grades PK–K · Littleton
Private · Religious
143 studentsRate it →
Primrose School of Ken Caryl
Elementary · Grades PK–K · Littleton
Private · Nonsectarian
110 students4:1Rate it →

Questions about Dakota Ridge’s schools

Are Dakota Ridge’s schools good?

By Colorado’s own tests, yes: the public schools Dakota Ridge children attend outscore 78% of Colorado’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #55 of 159 Colorado towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 48%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Dakota Ridge in?

Jefferson County School District R-1, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 73,532 students in 144 schools (2024–25).

What is Dakota Ridge’s graduation rate?

84% of the class of 2023 in Jefferson County School District R-1 graduated in four years, against 83% across Colorado.

How much does Dakota Ridge spend per student?

$15,276 in Jefferson County School District R-1 (FY2024), against $15,889 across Colorado. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Dakota Ridge?

Yes: Abiding Hope Preschool (religious, grades PK–K, 330 students), Foothills Christian Preschool & Kindergarten (religious, grades PK–K, 143 students) and Primrose School of Ken Caryl (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 110 students). Dakota Ridge also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Dakota Ridge families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Dakota Ridge → 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.