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City of Wheat Ridge Municipal BuildingPhoto: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 4.0
A−
Schools in Wheat Ridge · Jefferson County School District R-1

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

In Wheat Ridge, 38% of tested students are proficient in math, above the Colorado average (32%). The grade covers the public school district serving Wheat 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
12
2,868 students on the public path
In brief

Wheat Ridge’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 150 Colorado towns with household incomes within a quarter of Wheat Ridge’s, its schools beat 69%, 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 ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Everitt Middle School, then Wheat Ridge High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Compass Montessori - Wheat Ridge Charter School, Mountain Phoenix Community School, Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic STEM School (private), Midtown Montessori Academy (private) and Beth Eden Baptist School (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 Wheat 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 (150)Better than 69%
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 Wheat 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 Wheat Ridge, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD− to A
6–8Everitt Middle SchoolJefferson County School District R-1C
9–12Wheat Ridge High SchoolJefferson County School District R-1B+

Wheat 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

Wheat Ridge vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Wheat RidgeA−Jefferson County School District R-1
ArvadaA−Jefferson County School District R-1
EdgewaterA−Jefferson County School District R-1
LakewoodA−Jefferson County School District R-1
Mountain View—Jefferson County School District R-1

All 4 neighbors share Jefferson County School District R-1 with Wheat Ridge, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Wheat Ridge

12 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 Wheat Ridgeby address
Stevens Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
D−
469 students13:1Rate it →
Peak Expeditionary - Pennington
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C+
316 students18:1Rate it →
Norma Anderson Early Learning Center
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
112 students15:1Rate it →
Prospect Valley Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
A
583 students18:1Rate it →
Everitt Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C
456 students16:1Rate it →
Wheat Ridge High School
High · Grades 9–12
B+
932 students18:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Sobesky Academy
Grades K–12 · Lakewood
C−
Special Education
101 students7:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Mountain Phoenix Community School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Wheatridge
C+
Charter
533 students13:1Rate it →
Compass Montessori - Wheat Ridge Charter School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
B
Charter
288 students17:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic STEM School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
270 students21:1Rate it →
Midtown Montessori Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–5
Private · Nonsectarian
154 students19:1Rate it →
Beth Eden Baptist School
Grades K–12
Private · Religious
102 students7:1Rate it →

Questions about Wheat Ridge’s schools

Are Wheat Ridge’s schools good?

By Colorado’s own tests, yes: the public schools Wheat 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 69%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Wheat Ridge in?

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

Where do Wheat Ridge kids go to high school?

Wheat Ridge High School, with 932 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Wheat 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 Wheat 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 Wheat Ridge?

Yes: Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic STEM School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 270 students), Midtown Montessori Academy (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 154 students) and Beth Eden Baptist School (religious, grades K–12, 102 students). Wheat Ridge also has 2 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Wheat Ridge families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Wheat 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.