Original Research by School Decision on Englewood Early Childhood Education Center at Madd
Englewood Early Childhood Education Center at Madd is a preschool-only school within the Englewood School District, serving children in a single grade, Pre-Kindergarten. Because it serves only this early childhood grade, the school does not participate in the state testing program, and no academic proficiency data, graduation rate, or chronic absenteeism information is available for it. This is a function of the grade band, not a reflection of performance; state assessments begin in later elementary grades. For the same reason, the school is not positioned against other schools or districts on the typical academic metrics.
The school’s enrollment is moderate for a single-grade early childhood center. Its student body is majority white, with a substantial Latino or Hispanic population, and smaller shares of Asian, Black, and multiracial students. Just over half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a standard indicator of household income. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. Data on special education identification and English learner status was not reported in the available records.
The school sits in Englewood, a city that is a mix of older residential neighborhoods, a downtown with its own arts and food scene, and a major medical district anchored by two large hospitals. The city’s northwest quadrant has housing from the early 1900s and the CityCenter transit-oriented development built on a former mall site. The southeast is newer and largely residential. The Hampden Hills neighborhood contains a high concentration of apartments and is the wealthiest part of town. The city has two light rail stations and a free trolley connecting them to downtown and the medical district. The South Platte River trail system runs through the city.
The district itself, Englewood School District No. 1, is small and has made several recent changes. In late 2021, voters approved a bond measure for facility improvements including safety upgrades, roof repairs, and HVAC work, along with a small mill levy override for operations and maintenance. Beginning in the 2022-23 school year, the district shifted to standards-based grading in middle and high schools, replacing traditional letter grades with a system that measures progress against specific learning standards. That same year, the district launched limited in-district school choice, allowing families to select schools across the city rather than being assigned by attendance zone. In 2024, the school board approved a resolution to place a further mill levy override and bond issue on the November 2024 ballot for additional facility improvements and program enhancements.
Housing in the immediate area is moderately priced relative to the state and national benchmarks, with home values typically near the state average and above the national figure. Rents are also close to the state average. The mortgage rate environment reflects a broader national trend of relatively high rates, which affects affordability for families buying a home. The area is more affordable than the most expensive parts of the Denver metro but is not a low-cost market.
For a family considering this school, the essential facts are straightforward. This is an early childhood center, not a K-5 school, so it is the entry point for the district’s youngest students. Academic results are not available and would not be expected for this grade band. The student body is economically diverse, with a majority of white students and a substantial Hispanic population. The district has made recent investments in its facilities and pedagogical approach, and it offers a degree of school choice. Families will want to learn how students transition from this center to the district’s elementary schools and what early childhood curriculum or programs are offered in the classroom.
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