The top reported proficiency rate is 17% in Science. The lowest is 11% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Monroe Elementary School
Monroe Elementary School is a regular public elementary school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Colorado Springs, part of Colorado Springs School District 11. The school sits in a large, sprawling city where the economy is heavily shaped by military installations, aerospace and defense contractors, and tourism. Colorado Springs is car-dependent and spread across a high-desert plateau, with residential neighborhoods lining major corridors. The school itself does not have a magnet or charter designation, and no Title I status was reported in the data, though a substantial share of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high-poverty student body.
Enrollment is moderate for an elementary school, drawing a student population that is majority Hispanic, with a notable White minority and smaller shares of students who are Black, two or more races, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native. The data did not include counts for students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
State testing results are available for math, English language arts, and science. Proficiency rates in math and ELA are low, and science proficiency at fifth grade is also low. Compared with other districts in El Paso County, the school’s overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile. That said, participation rates on the state assessments were very high, so the results reflect nearly all students in the tested grades. The school serves grades that are regularly tested, so these scores are a key measure of academic performance. A family considering Monroe should be aware that the typical student here is performing below grade-level benchmarks in the core subjects, and may want to investigate what interventions or support programs the school offers to address that.
No data was available on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, advanced coursework, or specific program offerings such as art, music, or enrichment. The profile is thin in those areas, so a parent would need to contact the school for details on class sizes, the curriculum beyond the tested subjects, and any extracurricular or before- and after-school options.
At the district level, Colorado Springs District 11 has taken steps that may affect Monroe. It raised starting teacher salaries and increased pay across the district, which can help with teacher quality and retention. It also reduced the number of schools that had been on state improvement plans by nearly half, a sign of improving school performance across the district. Additionally, the district offers the D11 Promise Scholarship in partnership with Pikes Peak State College, allowing high school students to take college-level courses at no cost; that program would not directly affect Monroe’s elementary students but signals a broader commitment to postsecondary access within the district.
Housing in the area surrounding the school is more affordable than the state and national median, and rents have been relatively stable. The community context suggests that many families living near the school are likely renters or homeowners with moderate incomes, given the high share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals.
Monroe Elementary is a school serving a high-need population in a large, military- and tourism-driven city. The test results are a soft spot, and the lack of data on special populations, staffing, and programs leaves gaps that a parent should fill by visiting or speaking with the school. The district’s recent investments in teacher pay and its reduction of low-performing schools may be hopeful signs, but the school’s own academic standing remains in the bottom tier among El Paso County elementary schools. A family considering Monroe would want to understand what individualized support, tutoring, or enrichment is in place for students who are below grade level, and how the school engages families in a community where many households face economic challenges.
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