The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in English language arts. The lowest is 25% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Carlson Elementary School
Carlson Elementary School serves students from preschool through sixth grade in Idaho Springs, a small mountain town wedged along Interstate 70 in Clear Creek County. It is part of the Clear Creek School District No. Re-1, the only district in the county. The school is a regular public elementary school, not a charter or magnet.
Academic assessment results come from the Colorado Measures of Academic Success for the 2024-25 school year. In math, roughly a quarter of students in grades three through eight scored at the proficient or above level. In English language arts, about a third of students reached that benchmark. Science results for fifth grade were suppressed, meaning the number of students tested was too small to report publicly, though participation was strong. A parent looking at these scores may want to ask the school what supports are in place for students who are not yet proficient, and how the curriculum addresses those areas.
The student body is small. The majority of students are white, with a modest share identifying as Hispanic and another as two or more races. About one in three students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a marker of economic need. No data was available for the share of students with individualized education plans or English learner status, so a family with those needs should reach out directly to the school.
Idaho Springs itself is a tight-knit community with a historic downtown along Clear Creek, filled with restaurants, breweries, and shops. The town grew out of the Colorado gold rush and has shifted to a tourism- and recreation-based economy. It serves as a bedroom community for workers at the Loveland Ski Area and draws visitors for rafting, hiking, and the Argo Gold Mine and Indian Hot Springs. Housing values are somewhat below the state average but remain elevated by national standards, and the town’s geography in a mountain canyon limits large-scale new development. Growth has been stable. The town is small enough that the school sits near the downtown core, not on a separate campus.
The district brief turned up no recent parent-relevant changes such as bond measures, curriculum shifts, or boundary adjustments, so there is nothing reported to flag on that front.
Because Carlson Elementary serves only through sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. No chronic absenteeism or discipline data was available, and no program offerings—such as gifted, arts, or specialized STEM pathways—were listed in the data provided. A family considering the school may want to ask about after-school activities, enrichment opportunities, and class sizes beyond what is implied by the overall enrollment.
This is a small, community-rooted elementary school in a mountain town with strong outdoor recreation access. The proficiency rates are modest, and the school does not have a public record of certain support programs or school climate metrics. For families who value a close school setting integrated into a walkable downtown and who are comfortable having a conversation with the school about academic support, Carlson Elementary is worth a closer look.
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