The top reported proficiency rate is 72% in Science. The lowest is 65% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Mcgraw Elementary School
McGraw Elementary School serves preschool through fifth grade in Fort Collins, part of the Poudre School District R-1. It is a regular public school, not a charter, and it sits in a developed residential area of a mid-sized city that combines college-town energy with a substantial manufacturing and high-tech employment base. Colorado State University anchors the local economy, and Fort Collins has a historic Old Town district, an extensive bike network, and outdoor recreation along the Cache la Poudre River.
The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly white. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Enrollment is moderate for an elementary school serving this grade span, and the school runs classes from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade with a class size distribution that is typical for the building’s size.
On the Colorado Measures of Academic Success assessments, McGraw’s students posted proficiency rates that placed the school in the top quartile among elementary schools within Larimer County, when measured by overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. In math, a clear majority of students scored at or above the state’s proficiency benchmark. In English language arts, the share reaching that benchmark was slightly higher. Fifth-grade science results were also strong, with a large majority of tested students meeting or exceeding the state’s standard. Participation rates on all three assessments were high, which means the results reflect the experience of nearly every enrolled student in the tested grades. For a family comparing elementary options in the area, these are strong academic outcomes.
The school operates within Poudre School District R-1, which is itself one of the larger employers in Fort Collins. A search for recent district-level changes such as bond measures, mill levy overrides, or curriculum shifts did not turn up any that met the bar of a lasting, material impact that a family would need to know about today. The district appears to have been in a period of relative stability on those fronts.
Fort Collins has grown rapidly over the past several decades, particularly southward, and growth management has been a political priority since the 1980s. The city has a home rule government with a council-manager structure and detailed development plans. The housing market reflects a high-cost area. Home values in the ZIP code covering the school are typical for Fort Collins, which is itself above national norms; rents have been rising modestly. For a family considering moving to the attendance zone, housing affordability is a real consideration relative to the broader Fort Collins market.
The student body is not especially diverse by race or ethnicity, and the school has a meaningful but not dominant share of students from lower-income households. Data on the share of students with individualized education programs or who are English learners was not reported in the available data, so a parent wanting to understand special education staffing or English language support should ask the school directly.
McGraw is a neighborhood elementary school with strong tested performance and a student body that is relatively homogeneous. It sits in a growing, economically active city where housing costs are high. For a family that values solid academic results and a stable, traditional elementary setting within a larger district, and who can manage the local housing market, it is a school worth considering seriously.
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