The top reported proficiency rate is 67% in Math. The lowest is 59% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Bacon Elementary School
Bacon Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in Fort Collins, part of the Poudre School District R-1. It sits in a city that blends the energy of a major research university with a historic Old Town district, an extensive network of bike lanes and trails, and access to the Cache la Poudre River and the Rocky Mountain foothills. The local economy draws on Colorado State University, a large hospital system, the school district itself, and a mix of manufacturing and high-tech employers, giving the area a stable employment base.
The school’s enrollment is moderate for an elementary building. The student body is predominantly white, with a noticeable Hispanic presence and smaller shares of Asian and multiracial students. A relatively modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, which aligns with the broader area’s economic profile. Housing in the surrounding zip code is well above the national median in value, and rents have been rising, reflecting the city’s desirability and steady growth. Fort Collins has expanded rapidly, especially southward, and growth management has been a political priority since the 1980s, though the pressure on housing remains substantial.
On state assessments, Bacon Elementary posted solid results. In math, a clear majority of students reached the proficient or advanced level. In English language arts, the share was also a majority, though somewhat lower. Fifth-grade science showed a similar pattern, with a majority of students meeting the standard. When measured as a composite across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency placed it among the highest in Larimer County, well above the median of the county’s districts. For a family weighing academic performance, this is a clear strength: the school is delivering results that stand out in the local context.
The school does not serve older grades, so there is no graduation rate to report, nor are there advanced coursework offerings like Advanced Placement or career and technical programs. These simply do not apply to an elementary school. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, and the share of students with disabilities or English learner status were not available in the source material. A parent with specific concerns in these areas may want to ask the school directly. The district did not report recent major changes such as bond measures or curriculum shifts, so the institutional context appears stable.
Bacon Elementary’s location within Fort Collins means that families live in a community with strong civic amenities: the Old Town Library, the Lincoln Center for cultural arts, the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, and the Gardens on Spring Creek are all nearby. The MAX Bus Rapid Transit and extensive bike infrastructure make getting around feasible without a car for some trips, though the city is largely car-oriented beyond Old Town and the university area.
For a parent considering this school, the academic picture is encouraging. The student body comes from a more economically advantaged background relative to many schools in the county, and the assessment results reflect that. The school’s size is manageable, and the city offers a rich set of out-of-school resources. This is not a school that serves a highly diverse population by race or income, and a family prioritizing economic or cultural diversity might note that. But for those looking for a consistently high-performing elementary in a growing college town with ample outdoor and civic life, Bacon Elementary fits that profile.
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