The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in English language arts. The lowest is 17% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Jackson Elementary School
Jackson Elementary School is a regular public school in Colorado Springs serving prekindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of Colorado Springs School District 11, the largest district in the city. The school enrolls a diverse student body, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals. The student population includes a mix of backgrounds, with the largest groups being Hispanic and white, followed by smaller shares of Black, multiracial, Asian, and Native American students. The school is not a charter or magnet school, and no Title I status was reported.
On state assessments, Jackson Elementary’s results are lower than the midpoint among schools in El Paso County when looking at overall proficiency across math, reading, and science. The school’s proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile of that comparison group. In math, about one in five students scored at the proficient or advanced level. In English language arts, just over one in four students met that bar. At the fifth-grade level, science proficiency was lower still. The state testing participation rate was high, so the results draw from nearly all students. A parent looking at these numbers may want to ask the school about the specific strategies and supports in place for core instruction and intervention.
Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing, and course access were not available in the sources reviewed. The same is true for special education and English learner counts, though the school’s grade band and demographic profile would suggest a range of student needs. A parent may want to inquire directly about class sizes, support for students with disabilities, and programs for English learners.
The school sits in a large, sprawling city shaped by military installations, aerospace and defense contractors, and tourism. The broader economy is anchored by Fort Carson, Peterson and Schriever Space Force Bases, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and major defense firms. Residential neighborhoods spread across a high-desert plateau, and the city is car-dependent overall, with some walkable nodes downtown and in historic districts. Housing values in the area around the school are moderate relative to the state, and the rental market is active. The city has seen steady population growth, and the school district has responded with several initiatives.
District 11 recently raised starting teacher pay and implemented broader salary increases, a move intended to improve teacher recruitment and retention. The district also reduced the number of schools on state turnaround or priority improvement status, from nine to three, a shift that signals improving school performance across the system. Another notable program is the D11 Promise Scholarship, which lets high school students take college courses at Pikes Peak State College at no cost—a benefit that may be relevant for families planning ahead, though it does not directly affect the elementary years.
For a family considering Jackson Elementary, the picture is one of a high-poverty school serving a diverse student community in a large, military-influenced city. The academic results are lower than those of many other schools in the county, and the school’s offerings and support structures are not fully documented in the available data. The district context shows recent investments in teacher pay and a reduction in the number of low-performing schools, which may gradually influence the school’s climate and instruction. The school’s grade band and location make it a neighborhood option for families in the area, and the surrounding city offers a broad range of employment and civic amenities. A parent would want to visit, talk to staff, and ask about the school’s approach to raising achievement and meeting the needs of its students.
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