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Steamboat Springs downtownSteamboat Springs, #1 on this list · Photo: katkimchee · CC BY 2.0
Colorado rankings · Schools

Towns with the best schools in Colorado

Steamboat Springs ranks first on schools among Colorado’s 159 towns of 2,500+; 73 of the 159 grade A− or better (schools are graded within each state).

The Schools grade: state test results and graduation rates of the districts serving each town, compared with the state’s other districts (U.S. Department of Education). How grades work

#1

Steamboat Springs

Routt County · 13,557 people
A+

Schools grade, graded within the state·Overall B+ · #58 of 158 in CO

#T2

Monument

El Paso County · 13,813 people
A+

Schools grade, graded within the state·Overall B+ · #63 of 158 in CO

#T2

Palmer Lake

El Paso County · 2,591 people
A+

Schools grade, graded within the state·Overall A− · #41 of 158 in CO

All 159 towns

Schools grade, best first (graded within Colorado). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 97 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

159 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
1Steamboat SpringsRoutt County · 13,557 peopleA+graded within the state·Overall B+ · #58 of 158
T2MonumentEl Paso County · 13,813 peopleA+graded within the state·Overall B+ · #63 of 158
T2Palmer LakeEl Paso County · 2,591 peopleA+graded within the state·Overall A− · #41 of 158
T2Woodmoorunincorporated, El Paso County · 8,934 peopleA+graded within the state·Overall A · #10 of 158
5LittletonArapahoe County · 46,246 peopleA+graded within the state·Overall B+ · #54 of 158
T6BoulderBoulder County · 105,689 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall B · #73 of 158
T6Gunbarrelunincorporated, Boulder County · 10,051 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A · #12 of 158
T6LafayetteBoulder County · 30,116 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #51 of 158
T6LouisvilleBoulder County · 20,581 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A · #24 of 158
T6SuperiorBoulder County · 13,637 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A+ · #4 of 158
T11Air Force Academy College campusunincorporated, El Paso County · 6,727 peopleAgraded within the state·No overall grade
T11Gleneagleunincorporated, El Paso County · 6,440 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A · #26 of 158
T13Acres Greenunincorporated, Douglas County · 2,639 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A+ · #2 of 158
T13Castle PinesDouglas County · 15,583 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A · #6 of 158
T13Castle Pines Villageunincorporated, Douglas County · 4,436 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A− · #29 of 158
T13Castle RockDouglas County · 83,815 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A · #17 of 158
T13Highlands Ranchunincorporated, Douglas County · 102,257 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A+ · #3 of 158
T13Lone TreeDouglas County · 15,278 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall B · #70 of 158
T13Meridianunincorporated, Douglas County · 5,634 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A− · #38 of 158
T13Meridian Villageunincorporated, Douglas County · 2,699 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #52 of 158
T13ParkerDouglas County · 65,985 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A− · #48 of 158
T13Roxborough Parkunincorporated, Douglas County · 9,085 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A · #27 of 158
T13Sierra Ridgeunincorporated, Douglas County · 3,663 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A− · #44 of 158
T13Stepping Stoneunincorporated, Douglas County · 3,137 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A · #5 of 158
T13Sterling Ranchunincorporated, Douglas County · 4,213 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #62 of 158
T13Stonegateunincorporated, Douglas County · 8,906 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A · #7 of 158
T13The Pineryunincorporated, Douglas County · 11,871 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A− · #34 of 158
T28Fort CollinsLarimer County · 171,500 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #59 of 158
T28TimnathLarimer County · 11,600 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A · #9 of 158
T28WellingtonLarimer County · 12,169 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall B · #75 of 158
31SalidaChaffee County · 5,985 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A− · #40 of 158
T32CentennialArapahoe County · 108,658 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A− · #36 of 158
T32Greenwood VillageArapahoe County · 15,323 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall B · #77 of 158
34WindsorWeld County · 43,840 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A · #22 of 158
35AspenPitkin County · 6,489 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall B− · #101 of 158
36SeveranceWeld County · 11,841 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A− · #32 of 158
37EatonWeld County · 5,848 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A− · #30 of 158
38Manitou SpringsEl Paso County · 4,577 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B · #86 of 158
T39Cherry Creekunincorporated, Arapahoe County · 10,721 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A · #15 of 158
T39Cherry Hills VillageArapahoe County · 6,389 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A · #19 of 158
T39Dove Valleyunincorporated, Arapahoe County · 4,806 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A− · #37 of 158
T39Four Square Mileunincorporated, Arapahoe County · 23,024 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A− · #43 of 158
T39GlendaleArapahoe County · 4,475 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B− · #94 of 158
T39Holly Hillsunincorporated, Arapahoe County · 2,572 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A+ · #1 of 158
T39Invernessunincorporated, Arapahoe County · 2,934 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A · #18 of 158
T46ErieWeld County · 40,904 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A · #8 of 158
T46FirestoneWeld County · 20,129 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B+ · #60 of 158
T46FrederickWeld County · 18,241 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A · #25 of 158
T46LongmontBoulder County · 100,109 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A− · #31 of 158
T46MeadWeld County · 7,042 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A− · #42 of 158
T46Niwotunincorporated, Boulder County · 3,447 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A− · #35 of 158
52BroomfieldBroomfield County · 79,174 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A− · #45 of 158
53BrushMorgan County · 5,337 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B · #72 of 158
54DaconoWeld County · 6,844 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B+ · #56 of 158
T55ElizabethElbert County · 2,957 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A · #13 of 158
T55Ponderosa Parkunincorporated, Elbert County · 3,453 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B · #84 of 158
T57Applewoodunincorporated, Jefferson County · 8,350 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A · #21 of 158
T57ArvadaJefferson County · 122,901 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B+ · #64 of 158
T57Columbineunincorporated, Arapahoe County · 25,478 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A · #20 of 158
T57Dakota Ridgeunincorporated, Jefferson County · 33,753 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A · #14 of 158
T57EdgewaterJefferson County · 4,870 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall C+ · #107 of 158
T57Evergreenunincorporated, Jefferson County · 8,602 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A− · #39 of 158
T57Fairmountunincorporated, Jefferson County · 9,902 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A · #16 of 158
T57Geneseeunincorporated, Jefferson County · 3,778 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B+ · #53 of 158
T57GoldenJefferson County · 20,390 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B · #74 of 158
T57Ken Carylunincorporated, Jefferson County · 33,233 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A · #11 of 158
T57LakewoodJefferson County · 156,927 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B− · #97 of 158
T57West Pleasant Viewunincorporated, Jefferson County · 5,051 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A− · #49 of 158
T57Wheat RidgeJefferson County · 32,081 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B− · #100 of 158
70Black Forestunincorporated, El Paso County · 15,738 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B · #71 of 158
71WestminsterAdams County · 116,182 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B · #76 of 158
72LovelandLarimer County · 81,387 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B− · #88 of 158
73GunnisonGunnison County · 6,836 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B− · #93 of 158
74DurangoLa Plata County · 19,733 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B+ · #61 of 158
T75BreckenridgeSummit County · 5,015 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #90 of 158
T75FriscoSummit County · 2,792 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall A · #23 of 158
T75SilverthorneSummit County · 5,418 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #108 of 158
78Pueblo Westunincorporated, Pueblo County · 35,681 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #103 of 158
79Strasburgunincorporated, Adams County · 3,455 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #68 of 158
T80BerthoudLarimer County · 14,080 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall A− · #28 of 158
T80JohnstownWeld County · 22,433 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #89 of 158
T82Federal HeightsAdams County · 14,075 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #95 of 158
T82NorthglennAdams County · 38,893 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #109 of 158
84Buena VistaChaffee County · 3,248 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #92 of 158
T85AvonEagle County · 6,184 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #110 of 158
T85EagleEagle County · 7,280 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B+ · #57 of 158
T85Edwardsunincorporated, Eagle County · 10,785 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #112 of 158
T85GypsumEagle County · 9,212 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B+ · #65 of 158
T85VailEagle County · 4,407 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C · #123 of 158
90ThorntonAdams County · 147,766 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #102 of 158
91Snowmass VillagePitkin County · 2,965 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall A− · #46 of 158
92BayfieldLa Plata County · 2,974 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall A− · #33 of 158
93PlattevilleWeld County · 2,908 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C+ · #113 of 158
94Fort Carsonunincorporated, El Paso County · 18,019 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C+ · #115 of 158
95Welbyunincorporated, Adams County · 16,197 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C+ · #106 of 158
96Estes ParkLarimer County · 5,780 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B · #69 of 158
97AuroraArapahoe County · 410,053 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C · #122 of 158
T98Cliftonunincorporated, Mesa County · 19,518 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C · #130 of 158
T98FruitaMesa County · 14,003 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall A− · #47 of 158
T98Fruitvaleunincorporated, Mesa County · 8,019 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B · #80 of 158
T98Grand JunctionMesa County · 71,827 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C+ · #118 of 158
T98Orchard Mesaunincorporated, Mesa County · 6,945 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B · #85 of 158
T98PalisadeMesa County · 2,599 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B · #67 of 158
T98Redlandsunincorporated, Mesa County · 8,868 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B− · #99 of 158
T105Cañon CityFremont County · 17,030 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C− · #140 of 158
T105Lincoln Parkunincorporated, Fremont County · 3,986 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C− · #141 of 158
T105Park Centerunincorporated, Fremont County · 2,588 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C+ · #120 of 158
T108DeltaDelta County · 9,802 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall D · #149 of 158
T108Orchard CityDelta County · 3,299 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C− · #142 of 158
110Rocky FordOtero County · 3,752 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall D · #151 of 158
111GreeleyWeld County · 115,073 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C− · #136 of 158
112LamarProwers County · 7,588 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C · #128 of 158
T113BrightonAdams County · 45,395 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C · #121 of 158
T113Todd Creekunincorporated, Adams County · 5,379 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B · #78 of 158
115MillikenWeld County · 9,183 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B+ · #55 of 158
116Stratmoorunincorporated, El Paso County · 5,412 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B− · #91 of 158
T117BasaltEagle County · 4,009 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B− · #104 of 158
T117CarbondaleGarfield County · 6,762 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B · #81 of 158
T117El Jebelunincorporated, Eagle County · 2,941 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B · #79 of 158
T117Glenwood SpringsGarfield County · 10,395 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C− · #135 of 158
121FountainEl Paso County · 29,450 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C− · #137 of 158
122Woodland ParkTeller County · 8,014 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B− · #98 of 158
123DenverDenver County · 740,613 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C+ · #119 of 158
124YumaYuma County · 3,424 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C · #132 of 158
125MontroseMontrose County · 21,583 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C · #127 of 158
126Security-Widefieldunincorporated, El Paso County · 37,345 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #111 of 158
127LochbuieWeld County · 8,776 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #114 of 158
T128New CastleGarfield County · 4,896 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall B · #87 of 158
T128RifleGarfield County · 10,844 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall B− · #105 of 158
T128SiltGarfield County · 3,743 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall B · #83 of 158
131SterlingLogan County · 13,054 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall D · #154 of 158
132AultWeld County · 2,667 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall B · #66 of 158
133EvansWeld County · 22,500 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C− · #145 of 158
134Commerce CityAdams County · 72,345 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C− · #139 of 158
135Fort LuptonWeld County · 10,402 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C− · #146 of 158
T136FlorenceFremont County · 3,856 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C− · #133 of 158
T136Penroseunincorporated, Fremont County · 4,087 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C− · #143 of 158
138BennettAdams County · 4,224 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall B · #82 of 158
139AlamosaAlamosa County · 9,849 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall D · #148 of 158
140TrinidadLas Animas County · 8,091 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall D · #155 of 158
141CraigMoffat County · 8,874 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall B− · #96 of 158
142Colorado SpringsEl Paso County · 494,743 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall C− · #138 of 158
143Battlement Mesaunincorporated, Garfield County · 5,755 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall C · #124 of 158
144Fort MorganMorgan County · 11,841 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall D · #147 of 158
145La JuntaOtero County · 6,864 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall D · #153 of 158
146Cimarron Hillsunincorporated, El Paso County · 19,817 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall C · #129 of 158
147Monte VistaRio Grande County · 4,005 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall D · #152 of 158
148PuebloPueblo County · 110,404 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall D− · #158 of 158
149LeadvilleLake County · 2,668 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall A− · #50 of 158
150WalsenburgHuerfano County · 3,039 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall D− · #157 of 158
151BurlingtonKit Carson County · 3,164 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall C+ · #116 of 158
152EnglewoodArapahoe County · 35,305 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall C · #131 of 158
153CortezMontezuma County · 9,126 peopleDgraded within the state·Overall D · #150 of 158
T154Berkleyunincorporated, Adams County · 10,789 peopleDgraded within the state·Overall C− · #144 of 158
T154Shaw Heightsunincorporated, Adams County · 5,565 peopleDgraded within the state·Overall C− · #134 of 158
T156Sherrelwoodunincorporated, Adams County · 18,692 peopleDgraded within the state·Overall C · #126 of 158
T156Twin Lakesunincorporated, Adams County · 8,030 peopleDgraded within the state·Overall C · #125 of 158
158SheridanArapahoe County · 5,972 peopleDgraded within the state·Overall D · #156 of 158
159Derbyunincorporated, Adams County · 8,453 peopleD−graded within the state·Overall C+ · #117 of 158
Quick answers

Questions people ask

Which Colorado town has the best schools?

Steamboat Springs (Routt County) ranks first on schools among 159 towns, with an A+; Monument and Palmer Lake follow. Schools are compared within Colorado, so the letter is a state grade.

How are these towns ranked?

The Schools grade: state test results and graduation rates of the districts serving each town, compared with the state’s other districts (U.S. Department of Education). Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a schools grade (159 in Colorado). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Colorado page.

Go deeper

More Colorado lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

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Towns with the best schools in other states