The top reported proficiency rate is 9% in English language arts. The lowest is 3% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Montbello Middle School
Montbello Middle School is a regular public school in Denver, serving grades six through eight. It is part of the Denver Public Schools system, the largest district in Colorado and a major urban district undergoing significant changes. The school sits within the Montbello neighborhood, a residential area on the eastern side of the city, and draws its students from that community.
The student body is small for a full middle school, with enrollment concentrated most heavily in eighth grade, followed by seventh and then sixth. The composition is predominantly Hispanic, with Black students forming the next largest group and a smaller but notable share of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a high-poverty context. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the reporting, a gap that limits a full picture of the student support landscape.
On state assessments, performance is low across the board. In math, the share of students reaching proficiency was very small; in English language arts, it was somewhat higher but still low. Science results for eighth graders similarly show a small share meeting proficiency. Compared to other Denver County middle schools with available testing data, Montbello ranks in the bottom quartile for overall proficiency. Colorado uses the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS), and participation rates were high in all subjects, meaning the results reflect nearly the full student population. These numbers point to significant academic challenges that families should understand as they evaluate the school.
The school environment data is sparse. No information on discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, or staffing ratios was reported. Without those details, a parent considering Montbello may want to ask the school directly about safety, attendance patterns, and how teachers and support staff are allocated. The absence of program offerings in the data also means there is no public record of what elective, enrichment, or intervention programs exist, another area for direct inquiry.
Denver itself is a large, economically diverse city and state capital, with a strong job market anchored in telecommunications, aerospace, software, finance, and health care, plus major institutions like the Denver International Airport and the U.S. Mint. The city’s housing market is expensive relative to national averages; home values have seen a small recent decline, while rents continue to rise, making affordability a concern for many families. The school’s zip-code-level housing data reflects these trends, with home values above the national typical level and rents climbing.
The district has several recent changes that affect all its schools. Voters approved a large bond measure in 2024 for facility improvements, safety upgrades, and new construction, the largest such bond in Denver history. A district-wide literacy curriculum shift began in the 2023–2024 school year, adopting evidence-based reading instruction in elementary grades, which will eventually reach middle school students. A new unified enrollment system for school choice launched in 2024–2025, changing how families apply to schools across the district. In 2022, a mill levy override boosted teacher pay and mental health resources. These are district-level investments, and how they translate into Montbello’s daily experience would require local follow-up.
For a family reading this, Montbello Middle School presents as a high-poverty urban middle school where academic proficiency is currently low and where the district is actively investing in infrastructure, curriculum, and enrollment processes. The peer environment is predominantly Hispanic and Black, with modest overall size. The surrounding city offers extensive civic amenities, a diverse economy, and a strong job market, but also a high cost of housing. Parents who are weighing this school should seek updated information on student support services, programs, staffing, and discipline, as those details are not available in this dataset.
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