The top reported proficiency rate is 75% in English language arts. The lowest is 66% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Lone Tree Elementary
Lone Tree Elementary serves students in preschool through sixth grade, making it an elementary school that also offers a pre-kindergarten program. It is a regular public school within the Douglas County School District and is not a charter or magnet school. The school is located in Lone Tree, a city in Douglas County that blends master-planned residential neighborhoods with a substantial commercial and retail presence. Lone Tree is home to Park Meadows, one of the largest shopping malls in Colorado, and major employers such as Sky Ridge Medical Center, the Charles Schwab Corporation regional campus, and Kiewit’s regional headquarters.
The student body is predominantly white, with a notably low share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school’s racial and ethnic composition includes a substantial number of students who are white, with smaller but present groups of students who are Hispanic, two or more races, and Asian, and very small numbers of students who are Black or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. No count was available for students receiving special education services or for English learners; a parent may want to ask the school directly about these populations and the supports available.
On state assessments administered in the most recent school year, Lone Tree Elementary’s students performed at a high level. In math, the share of students scoring at or above the proficient level on the Colorado Measures of Academic Success was well above the state average, placing the school in a strong position. In English language arts, the proficiency rate was similarly high. In science, which is tested only in fifth grade, the proficiency rate was also strong. These results place Lone Tree Elementary as a school where academic achievement is a clear strength.
The school environment data was limited. Information on discipline, chronic absenteeism, and staffing was not reported, so it is not possible to evaluate those aspects from this data set. The school’s participation rate on the state assessments was lower than ideal, at about nine in ten children for math and English language arts, and slightly lower for science. A parent may wish to follow up on how the school ensures broad participation in testing.
The housing market in the area is expensive. Home values in Lone Tree are high, well above the state benchmark, and while they have eased somewhat recently, they remain out of reach for many households. Rents are also high, and renting is noticeably more affordable than buying with a mortgage at current interest rates. The community is growing rapidly; city officials have projected the population to roughly double within the next decade, driven by large-scale developments such as the RidgeGate mixed-use community, which includes thousands of planned homes and a new city center.
The parent district, Douglas County School District, has made recent investments that affect Lone Tree Elementary. Voters approved a substantial mill levy override in 2022 dedicated to teacher and staff compensation, mental health support, and social-emotional learning. In 2024, voters passed both a major bond for new school construction, safety upgrades, and facility renovations, and an additional mill levy override for teacher and staff recruitment and retention. The bond was structured so that the tax rate does not increase because prior bonds are retiring. The district also adopted a new evidence-based literacy curriculum for elementary schools beginning in the 2023-24 school year, a shift in how reading is taught that will shape early-grade instruction for the foreseeable future.
For a family considering this school, the picture is one of a well-performing elementary school in a rapidly growing, high-cost suburban city. The academic results are clearly a strength, the student body has a very low share of students experiencing economic disadvantage, and the surrounding community provides substantial amenities and employment. The school itself serves only through sixth grade, so families will need to consider the middle school transition later. The district-level investments in staff compensation and literacy instruction are recent and may be relevant to a parent’s assessment of the school’s trajectory and priorities.
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