The top reported proficiency rate is 78% in Science. The lowest is 64% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on University Park Elementary School
University Park Elementary School is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in the city of Denver. It is part of School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C, often referred to as Denver Public Schools. The context for a family considering this school is one of a major, economically diverse city that is the state capital and a regional hub for commerce, government, and culture.
The school sits within Denver’s University Park neighborhood, an area with a housing market where home values are priced well above the state benchmark. Rents in the area also reflect a high-cost market relative to national averages. While the district has received major capital investments, including a voter-approved bond package in 2024 that is the largest in its history, the cost of living in the immediate area around the school is a characteristic families should weigh.
Academically, University Park Elementary posts results that are a clear strength. On the Colorado Measures of Academic Success, student proficiency rates in both math and English language arts place this school in the top quartile among districts in Denver County. The combined performance across tested subjects is well above the county’s median. In fifth grade, science achievement is also strong, with a high share of students meeting or exceeding the state’s proficiency standard. Participation rates on these assessments are very high, indicating that nearly all enrolled students are tested.
The student body is roughly in line with a typical elementary enrollment for an urban neighborhood school. A moderate share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The composition is predominantly white, with smaller shares of students who are Hispanic, Black, Asian, or of two or more races; a very small number of American Indian or Alaska Native students are also enrolled. The school is not a charter school, and no magnet or Title I status was reported.
The surrounding environment of Denver offers extensive parks, cultural institutions, and a dense downtown core, though the school itself is located in a residential neighborhood south of the downtown area. The district has recently implemented several changes that affect this school. A district-wide literacy curriculum aligned with the science of reading was adopted for the lower grades. A new unified enrollment system now governs how families apply to schools across the district, which is a change to the school choice process. Additionally, a voter-approved mill levy override has directed funds toward teacher pay and mental health services.
For a family weighing options, the data points to a public elementary school in a high-cost urban housing market that delivers academic results well above the typical level for the county. The school’s enrollment and composition reflect the surrounding neighborhood. The district-level changes around literacy instruction and enrollment procedures are recent and may warrant direct inquiry with the school about how they are being implemented. No data was available on discipline rates, staffing ratios, chronic absenteeism, or the share of students with disabilities or who are English learners, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those areas of student support and school climate.
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