The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in English language arts. The lowest is 36% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Dakota Valley Elementary School
Dakota Valley Elementary School is a regular public school within the Cherry Creek School District, located in Aurora, Colorado. For families evaluating this school, the academic picture is mixed but carries some specific strengths worth noting. The school serves students from preschool through fifth grade.
On state assessments, which measure proficiency in math, English language arts, and science, Dakota Valley’s results sit above the median proficiency level found across schools in Arapahoe County. The school scores in the top quartile of that county-wide comparison, which includes a dozen districts. What that means concretely: the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects is higher than what most elementary schools in the area report. That is a genuine positive. English language arts proficiency, in particular, is the strongest subject here, with a solid share of students meeting or exceeding the state standard. Math and science show lower proficiency rates. A parent may want to ask the school how it supports students in those subjects, but the school’s ELA outcome is a clear relative strength.
The student body is diverse. About half of the students identify as white. The remainder is made up of Hispanic students, Black students, students of two or more races, and Asian students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a measure of economic need. The school does not appear to report counts for students receiving special education services or English language support, so that piece of the support picture is not available here. Kindergarten has the largest single grade enrollment, and the school is large enough to offer a full complement of classroom settings across the elementary grade span.
Aurora is not a walkable town in the traditional sense. It is a sprawling, largely suburban city composed of subdivisions and master-planned communities, with a car-dependent built environment. There is no single downtown; civic and institutional life is spread across the city. Light rail lines and feeder buses serve some parts of the city, but the typical family will rely on driving to and from school. The housing market in the zip code around the school reflects typical suburban costs. Home values have softened a bit in the past year, while rents have edged up. For a family looking at this area, it remains a moderately priced corner of the Denver metro, and the school sits within a district that is a major employer in its own right.
The Cherry Creek School District is one of the largest in the state and is a well-established presence in Aurora. Dakota Valley is a neighborhood elementary school within that system. It does not have a charter status, and there is no information on Title I funding or any special academic program designation. The lack of data on chronic absenteeism and discipline is a gap; a parent may want to ask the school directly about attendance patterns and school climate.
Dakota Valley offers a straightforward public elementary education in a large, diverse suburban district. Its academic performance is above average for Arapahoe County, especially in reading and writing. For a family that values a solid academic foundation, a diverse peer group, and the size and resources of a large district, this school fits. A family particularly concerned about math and science instruction may want to dig deeper into the school’s approach in those areas. The school does not have an obvious weakness—its profile is of a middle-to-upper performing elementary school in a suburban context.
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