The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in English language arts. The lowest is 14% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Colfax Elementary School
Colfax Elementary School is a regular public school in Denver, serving students from preschool through fifth grade. It sits within the Denver Public Schools district, a large urban system in Colorado’s capital and principal commercial city. Denver functions as a major population and employment center, with an economy spanning telecommunications, aerospace, health care, financial services, and tourism, and it hosts the headquarters of several Fortune firms. The city combines a dense downtown core with a wide network of residential neighborhoods, extensive parks, and cultural institutions such as the Denver Art Museum and the Denver Performing Arts Complex. The school’s immediate area reflects the broader city’s housing market, where home values and rents are typical of a major urban center, and affordability can be a consideration for families, especially given the economic profile of the student body.
Academically, state assessment results place Colfax Elementary in a challenging position. Proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science were all low. A large share of tested students scored below the proficient threshold on the Colorado Measures of Academic Success. The school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades fell into the bottom quartile relative to districts in Denver County. These results are a clear signal for families to investigate further with the school about the specific academic supports and interventions in place. Because the school serves only elementary grades, no graduation rate applies, and there is no data on chronic absenteeism or discipline.
The student body is diverse and economically disadvantaged. Enrollment is on the smaller side for a neighborhood elementary school. The largest racial or ethnic group is Hispanic, with smaller shares of Black, White, and American Indian or Alaska Native students. A very large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of high poverty in the school community. The school does not have charter or magnet status, and data on special education and English learner populations was not available in the sources reviewed.
From the district level, several recent developments may affect Colfax Elementary families. In November 2024, Denver voters approved a substantial bond measure for Denver Public Schools, the largest in the district’s history, aimed at facility improvements, safety upgrades, technology, and new school construction. The district also implemented a new literacy curriculum across elementary grades beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, shifting to instruction aligned with the science of reading. A unified enrollment system for school choice launched in the 2024-2025 school year, changing how families apply to and select schools. Additionally, a mill levy override approved in 2022 boosted teacher pay and expanded mental health services, with ongoing implications for staffing and student support. These factors together point to a district in a period of investment and structural change, which may bring both new resources and new processes for families navigating the school system.
In summary, Colfax Elementary is a high-poverty, diverse elementary school in a large urban district, with academic proficiency rates that are low and rank among the bottom in the county. Families considering the school will want to understand the specific academic programs and supports available and how recent district initiatives may shape the school’s environment and resources in the coming years.
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