The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in Science. The lowest is 13% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Marrama Elementary School
Marrama Elementary School serves students from preschool through fifth grade as a regular public school within Denver Public Schools, located in Denver’s Montbello neighborhood in the far northeastern part of the city. The school is in the northeast quadrant of Denver, near the intersection of East 40th Avenue and Peoria Street, a part of the city that has seen significant residential development over recent decades within the Denver Public Schools district that covers the entire city and county of Denver.
This is a large elementary school by enrollment. Its student body is predominantly Hispanic, with Black students as the next largest group, followed by Asian students, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students, White students, students of two or more races, and a small number of American Indian or Alaska Native students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a community with considerable economic need. The school does not have charter status.
State testing data from the Colorado Measures of Academic Success for the 2024-2025 school year shows that in math, the share of students meeting the state’s proficiency criteria was well below the midpoint among Denver County districts, placing the school in the bottom quartile for overall proficiency across tested subjects. English language arts results followed a similar pattern. In science, which is tested only at fifth grade, the share of students meeting science proficiency criteria was larger than in math and English language arts, but still at a modest level. Participation rates on the assessments were very high, meaning almost all enrolled students took the tests.
The school serves only elementary grades, so it has no graduation rate to report. No data were available on special education identification rates or English learner status, nor on chronic absenteeism or discipline. A parent may want to ask the school directly about its programs for students receiving special education services and for English language learners.
Denver is a major consolidated city-county and state capital that functions as the principal commercial, industrial, and transportation hub for the region. The economy spans telecommunications, aviation and aerospace, software, financial and business services, health care, and tourism. The city has experienced sustained population growth over the long term, with a ring of suburban communities forming a nearly continuous built-up corridor along the Front Range. Housing values in the school’s zip code area have seen some softening recently, and rents have also declined somewhat, but the area remains an expensive part of the metro area relative to many national benchmarks.
The district itself has been through several recent changes that may affect a family’s experience. Voters approved the largest bond measure in district history, funding facility improvements, safety upgrades, technology, and new school construction across Denver Public Schools. The district shifted to a new school enrollment system called Unified Enrollment, consolidating how families apply to and select schools. A district-wide literacy curriculum shift toward evidence-based reading instruction aligned with the science of reading began rolling out in elementary grades. Voters also approved a mill levy override to increase teacher pay and support mental health services.
For a family considering Marrama, the picture is of a large, high-needs elementary school in a growing, economically diverse part of Denver, where academic proficiency rates on state assessments have room for growth. The school sits within a large urban district that has made recent investments in facilities, literacy instruction, and mental health support. A family may want to explore what academic support programs and enrichment opportunities are available at the school, and how the new district enrollment system works for their specific needs.
See more original research from School Decision →