The top reported proficiency rate is 38% in Science. The lowest is 27% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on James Irwin Elementary School - Howard
James Irwin Elementary School – Howard is a small, K-5 charter school in central Colorado Springs, operating within Colorado Springs School District 11. As a charter school, it operates with its own educational approach under the district’s umbrella. For families considering it, the school offers a specific, self-contained elementary setting within the broader, large-district system.
The student body is modest in size and diverse in composition. White students make up the largest share, followed by a substantial population of Hispanic students. Families of two or more races, Black students, and Asian students are also represented. Nearly half of the students come from households that qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a significant number of families with lower incomes. The school is a regular elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade; because it does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate data, which is expected for its grade band.
State testing data for reading and math, covering grades three through five, shows a mixed academic picture. In English language arts, more than a third of students scored at the proficient level, placing the school’s overall performance across tested subjects above the midpoint when compared with other districts in El Paso County. In mathematics, the share of students reaching proficiency was lower, at about a quarter. Science testing, which occurs only in fifth grade, showed a proficiency rate just above that of the math results. These are the most recent results available, and they suggest a school where students tend to perform more strongly in reading than in math, and where a parent may want to look into specific academic supports, particularly in mathematics.
The school’s location in central Colorado Springs places it in a large, sprawling city shaped by a powerful military and aerospace presence. The city’s economy is anchored by Fort Carson, Peterson and Schriever Space Force bases, the Air Force Academy, and an array of defense contractors. This means many families in the area are connected to the military, either as active-duty personnel, veterans, or civilian employees in the defense sector. The city’s population has grown significantly in recent decades, and the housing market reflects that ongoing demand, though home values have softened somewhat in the near term. The school’s immediate area within Colorado Springs is a mix of older residential neighborhoods, and the broader city is heavily car-dependent, with limited walkable nodes.
The district itself has made notable moves recently. It has invested in teacher pay, raising the starting salary in an effort to recruit and retain educators, which directly affects classroom stability. It has also reduced the number of its schools that are on state improvement lists. For high school planning, the district offers a partnership with Pikes Peak State College, funding college-level courses for students at no cost. Because James Irwin Elementary is a charter school, families should confirm how it participates in these district-level programs, as charters have independent control over their curriculum and operations.
Ultimately, James Irwin Elementary – Howard is a small, central charter elementary with a diverse student body and a performance profile that is above the county midpoint overall but shows a notable gap between reading and math proficiency. For a family, the key question is whether the school’s specific charter mission and community fit their child, particularly for a student who may need stronger math support.
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