The top reported proficiency rate is 42% in English language arts. The lowest is 32% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Buffalo Trail Elementary School
Buffalo Trail Elementary School is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through sixth grade, part of the Cherry Creek School District in Aurora, Colorado. It sits within a city that is sprawling and largely suburban, composed of hundreds of subdivisions and master-planned communities, with car-dependent street patterns and a light rail network that connects parts of the metro area. Buckley Space Force Base and the Anschutz Medical Campus are the largest employers in the city, which grew rapidly in past decades and continues to see new development along the corridor toward Denver International Airport.
The school’s academic results place it above the midpoint among districts in Arapahoe County when an overall proficiency index is used, combining math, English language arts, and science results. This is a genuine strength relative to nearby peers. Individually, the math and ELA proficiency rates for tested grades show that a little over a third and a little under half of students respectively met state benchmarks, with the science rate somewhat lower. Because the school serves only through sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and no multi-year trend data is available to show whether these figures are stable or changing. The assessment participation rates reported were in the mid-to-high eighties percent for each subject, which means a noticeable share of students did not take the tests; a parent may want to ask the school about that directly.
Enrollment is substantial for an elementary school, reflecting the population density of this part of Aurora. The student body is diverse. White students are the largest group, followed by Hispanic students, students of two or more races, Black students, and Asian students. A measurable share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is common in large suburban districts. Data on the number of students with individualized education programs or English learner classification was not available in the information provided, so families with children who need those services should confirm availability with the school directly.
The housing market in the zip code serving the school is expensive by national standards and slightly above the Colorado statewide benchmark, with both home values and rents having dipped modestly recently. That means the area is a financially significant commitment, and the school’s attendance zone likely draws from nearby subdivisions within the Cherry Creek district boundary. The district itself is a large one with a reputation for strong programs, though specific course access, staffing ratios, and discipline data for Buffalo Trail were not included in what was made available, so it is not possible to describe those details here.
For a family considering this school, the core academic picture is one of a school that performs a bit better than many of its county peers but still has substantial room for improvement in getting all students to proficiency. The student body is quite mixed racially and economically. The school does not offer a specialized magnet or charter focus; it is a neighborhood elementary within a large suburban district. Missing information on special education, English learner support, and the full range of program offerings means that a visit to the school and a conversation with staff would be worthwhile to fill in those gaps. Within those limits, Buffalo Trail represents a solid, middle-path option in a fast-growing part of the Denver metro area.
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