The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in English language arts. The lowest is 13% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Penrose Elementary School
Penrose Elementary School serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in the Colorado Springs School District 11, a regular public school situated in a residential pocket of the city. The school is not a charter or magnet, and it operates as a neighborhood elementary within one of the state’s larger districts. Enrollment is modest for an elementary of this grade span, with a single class at each grade level from kindergarten through fifth grade and a prekindergarten program.
The student body is racially and ethnically diverse. White students make up the largest share, followed by a substantial Hispanic population, and smaller groups of Black, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and multiracial students. More than three of every five students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a level that places the school in a higher-poverty context relative to many schools in the region. Data on special populations, such as students with disabilities or English learners, was not available in the materials provided.
Academic performance on Colorado’s state assessments is a clear area of concern. Proficiency rates in math and English language arts for grades three through five were well below the district and state averages, and the science proficiency rate in fifth grade was even lower. When compared with other schools in El Paso County, Penrose’s overall proficiency across tested subjects landed in the bottom quarter of the comparison group. Participation rates on the assessments were moderately high, though slightly below full participation, which can affect the completeness of the picture. Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report.
The neighborhood surrounding Penrose is part of Colorado Springs, a large, sprawling city built around military installations, aerospace and defense contracting, tourism, and residential development. The economy is heavily shaped by Fort Carson, Peterson and Schriever space force bases, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin. The city has grown significantly over the past two decades and continues to expand outward. Housing in the area carries a moderate price point relative to national benchmarks, with home values that have seen a slight recent decline and rents that have also eased somewhat. The broader housing market in El Paso County reflects a mix of older homes in established neighborhoods and new construction on the fringe. Driving is the primary mode of transportation; walkable nodes are limited to a few pockets downtown and in historic districts.
The parent district, Colorado Springs School District 11, has taken steps that may affect families at Penrose. Teacher salaries have been raised in an effort to improve recruitment and retention, a change that could support staffing stability at the school. The district has also reduced the number of its schools on state turnaround or priority improvement status, signaling a broader push toward stronger performance. Additionally, the D11 Promise Scholarship, offered in partnership with Pikes Peak State College, provides high school students with tuition-free college courses; while this program does not directly affect elementary families, it is part of the district’s overall academic pathway.
For a family considering Penrose, the school’s academic results are the most notable feature: proficiency is low across tested subjects, and the school sits at the bottom of the countywide distribution. The high share of students qualifying for economic assistance suggests a school that likely serves a community with concentrated needs. Families who place a high priority on strong test scores or a more affluent peer environment may want to look into this further with the school and district to understand what academic supports and interventions are in place. The broader city offers a strong job market tied to the military and aerospace sectors, but housing costs, while not the highest in the state, still represent a substantial share of typical income.
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