The top reported proficiency rate is 73% in English language arts. The lowest is 64% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Coyote Creek Elementary School
Coyote Creek Elementary School serves students from preschool through sixth grade in Highlands Ranch, a master-planned suburban community in Douglas County. The school is part of the Douglas County School District No. Re 1, which in recent years has secured significant voter-approved funding. In 2022, voters passed a mill levy override for teacher compensation and mental health support, the district’s first successful one in over a decade. In 2024, voters approved both a major bond for new school construction, safety upgrades, and facility renovations, and a second mill levy override for teacher and staff retention. These investments mark a shift toward sustained financial support for district priorities after a long gap.
Academically, Coyote Creek performs at a strong level across the subjects it tests. In math, a substantial majority of students scored at proficient or advanced levels on the Colorado Measures of Academic Success. In English language arts, the share of students reaching that benchmark was even higher. Science results for fifth graders, the only grade tested in that subject, also showed a majority of students meeting or exceeding standards. The school’s participation rates for these assessments were high, meaning the results reflect nearly the entire student body in those grades. These are the most recent results available, and they paint a picture of a school where most students are meeting state expectations in core subjects.
The student body is relatively homogeneous by race and ethnicity. The largest group is white students, followed by a smaller share of Hispanic students, with smaller numbers of students who identify as Asian, two or more races, Black, and American Indian or Alaska Native. About one in ten students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a figure that is modest compared to national averages. Data on the share of students with disabilities or who are English learners was not available, so a parent may want to look into this further with the school if those support structures are a priority.
Coyote Creek is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. Its total enrollment is in the mid-range for an elementary school serving kindergarten through sixth grade. The school environment data, such as discipline rates, staffing ratios, and chronic absenteeism, was not available, so the profile is incomplete on those dimensions. The school does not have a graduation rate, since it does not serve high school grades, nor does it offer advanced placement or career-technical coursework given the grade band.
Highlands Ranch itself shapes the experience of families at this school. It is a car-dependent suburb with no traditional downtown. The community was developed from the late twentieth century onward as a master-planned area, and growth has slowed significantly as it approaches full buildout. The built environment consists of segmented neighborhoods connected by arterial roads and an extensive trail and greenbelt system. There are four recreation centers, two golf courses, a library, and over seventy miles of trails. The community is unincorporated and sits roughly twelve miles from the Denver Tech Center, a major employment hub. Daily errands typically require driving.
Housing in the area carries a price tag well above national medians, with home values that have seen a modest decline recently and rents that are similarly elevated. For a family considering a move to the attendance area, the cost of entry is high relative to typical U.S. markets, and the affordability metrics confirm that buying a home here requires a household income well above the national median.
The school’s academic performance is clearly a strength. For a family looking for a Douglas County elementary school where the majority of students meet state standards in math, reading, and science, and where the district has made recent investments in teacher pay and facilities, Coyote Creek fits that description. The school serves a community that is largely residential, affluent by national standards, and lacking in urban-style walkability. Families who prefer a suburban setting with extensive recreational trails, a planned neighborhood feel, and strong test scores will find this school aligns with those preferences. There is no comparative data against other district elementary schools, so a family evaluating schools within the county would need to look at individual school results to see how they stack up.
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