Fountain School District No. 8 in the County of El Paso An, CO

Original Research by School Decision on Fountain School District No. 8 in the County of El Paso An

Fountain School District No. 8 serves a broad corridor of El Paso County, Colorado, covering the city of Fountain and extending into portions of Colorado Springs, including areas near Fort Carson. The district enrolls students from preschool through twelfth grade across roughly a dozen schools. The student body is diverse: a little under half of students are white, around a third are Hispanic, and the remainder are Black, multiracial, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native. This is a district shaped in part by its proximity to a major military installation, and the schools include campuses on or near Fort Carson itself.

Academically, the district's performance on state assessments places it below the midpoint among El Paso County's districts for overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. On the Colorado Measures of Academic Success, proficiency rates for all students in math and English language arts, in the grades tested, hovered below the county median. Science scores were mixed: fifth-grade students performed somewhat higher than the district's own averages, while eighth-grade science was lower. The district’s chronic absenteeism rate also fell below the midpoint among the county’s districts, meaning a substantial share of students are missing enough school days that it draws attention. A parent considering this district may want to ask how the district is working to improve both academic achievement and attendance.

The district sits in a housing market that is moderately priced relative to the wider Colorado market. Home values in the zip codes the district covers are below the state median, and have seen a slight decline. Rents are higher than the national typical mortgage payment, which suggests that renting is the more common option in this area.

A significant development for the district came in late 2022, when voters approved a bond issue for school construction, renovation, and technology upgrades. The bond is funding the construction of a new school on Fort Carson to replace Abrams Elementary. As of 2025, that new school was nearing completion. The bond also funds district-wide security and technology upgrades. This will have a lasting impact on families, especially those connected to Fort Carson, by improving the physical condition of facilities and modernizing the learning environment.

The comparison data shows the district’s per-pupil spending sits in the middle range of El Paso County’s districts, near the county median. This suggests the district has a level of resources that is broadly in line with its neighbors, though it is not at the top of the range. The district's state testing participation rates were high, above well over ninety percent, which is a sign that the data reported is comprehensive.

For a family or resident, this is a district with a diverse student population and a clear recent investment in its physical plant, particularly for the military community. The academic proficiency numbers are a soft spot, as is the chronic absenteeism rate. These are areas where a parent would want to learn more about the district’s specific strategies and support programs. The district serves a mix of suburban and semi-rural areas, and the housing is relatively affordable for Colorado, which may be a draw for families looking for a lower-cost entry point into the region.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

7,885

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 30%

Black 10%

White 44%

Asian 2%

Two+ 11%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 2%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

24%

38%

Gr 4

21%

35%

Gr 5

34%

49%

Gr 6

19%

35%

Gr 7

29%

45%

Gr 8

21%

42%

Gr 38

25%

41%

Math

Gr 3

23%

40%

Gr 4

21%

29%

Gr 5

23%

38%

Gr 6

20%

Gr 7

14%

23%

Gr 8

12%

23%

Gr 38

17%

29%

Science

Gr 5

33%

41%

Gr 8

16%

29%

Schools in this District

13 schools are officially reported under this district.

Welte Education Center

Abrams Elementary School

Carson Middle School

Fountain-Fort Carson High School

Fountain Middle School

Mesa Elementary School

Patriot Elementary School

Aragon Elementary School

Mountainside Elementary School

Jordahl Elementary School

Eagleside Elementary School

Weikel Elementary School

Conrad Early Learning Center

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

24%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

34%

Grades 3-8

Science

2 grades reported

38%

Grade 5

24%

Grade 8

Social Studies

2 grades reported

17%

Grade 4

18%

Grade 7

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$474,484

Year-over-year change-0.7%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$396K to $659K

vs. state typical0.87x

vs. national typical1.29x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
80817	Fountain	$396K	-1.1%	32.1%
80926	Colorado Springs	$659K	-1.1%	20.3%
80928		$406K	+0.7%	18.8%
80906	Colorado Springs	$530K	-1.4%	1.5%
80925	Colorado Springs	$449K	-3.1%	1.2%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,094/mo

Year-over-year change+3.1%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$1,622 to $2,426/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
80817	Fountain	$2,104	+3.1%	32.1%
80906	Colorado Springs	$1,622	+1.6%	1.5%
80925	Colorado Springs	$2,426	+5.5%	1.2%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,394/mo

Home price / national median income5.7x

Annual rent / national median income30.0%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$300/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$543,271 (-2.4% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.