The top reported proficiency rate is 26% in English language arts. The lowest is 16% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Keller Elementary School
Keller Elementary School serves students from preschool through fifth grade in Colorado Springs, within the Colorado Springs School District 11. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and it operates as a neighborhood school for families in the area. Its enrollment is substantial for an elementary, with a student body that reflects the socioeconomic diversity of its part of the city. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, an indicator that the school serves a population with significant economic need. The racial and ethnic composition is mixed, with no single group holding an overwhelming majority; Hispanic and white students each make up a large share, with smaller numbers of students who are two or more races, Black, Asian, and other backgrounds.
The academic picture at Keller is one of low overall proficiency as measured by Colorado state assessments. In both math and English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or better sits well below the midpoint among El Paso County schools, and the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in the county. On the most recent state tests, the percentages of students reaching proficiency in math and reading were both modest, and science performance at the fifth-grade level was particularly low. For a family considering Keller, these results point to a school where many students are still developing foundational academic skills, and where the rate of on-grade-level performance is a soft spot. The data do not include information on how students in different demographic subgroups performed, nor on trends over time, so it is not possible to say whether the school is improving or holding steady. A parent may want to ask the school directly about its approach to academic intervention and whether growth measures tell a different story than the proficiency snapshot.
The school’s environment and program information is thin in the available data. There are no reported figures on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, staffing ratios, or class sizes. The school does appear to offer the standard elementary curriculum, but the data do not describe enrichment offerings, special education services, or English learner supports, though given the school’s demographics those supports are likely present. The district has made notable changes that may affect Keller families. The district raised starting teacher salaries substantially and cut the number of schools on low-performance status nearly in half, which could signal improving conditions for instruction district-wide. It also established a scholarship program with Pikes Peak State College that allows high school students to take college courses at no cost, though that program does not directly affect Keller’s elementary-age students.
Colorado Springs itself is a large, sprawling city shaped by military installations, aerospace and defense contractors, and tourism. The economy is dominated by Fort Carson, Peterson and Schriever space force bases, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and companies like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. The city has grown steadily, with a population that has increased substantially in recent decades. Housing values in the area around Keller are moderate relative to the state median, though prices have softened recently. The area is car-dependent, with limited walkability outside a few nodes. For families living in the neighborhoods that feed into Keller, the school is a neighborhood option where the student body is economically diverse and the academic results are below the county average. The school fits a family that values a local public school within a large district and is prepared to look into what academic supports are available to help students reach grade-level benchmarks.
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