The top reported proficiency rate is 22% in English language arts. The lowest is 16% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Baker Elementary School
Baker Elementary School serves students in first through fifth grade as part of the Fort Morgan Re-3 School District in northeastern Colorado. The school sits in Fort Morgan, a home-rule city that functions as the commercial and industrial hub for Morgan County and the surrounding plains. The local economy is deeply rooted in agriculture and food processing, anchored by a large Cargill meatpacking plant, a Leprino Foods cheese factory, a Dairy Farmers of America milk-processing facility, and a major seed processor. The city owns and operates its own electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, and sanitation utilities, a distinctive arrangement that provides local employment beyond what a town of this size might typically offer. Housing in the area is moderately priced relative to the state, though values have seen a slight recent dip. The city has been growing slowly, with some land annexation over the past decade, but no major housing developments were identified in publicly available sources.
Baker Elementary itself is a regular public school with an enrollment that is moderate for an elementary building serving only five grade levels. The student body is diverse, with a large majority of students identifying as Hispanic, about a quarter as White, and small numbers of Black, multiracial, and Native American students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating a high level of economic need in the community. Data on the share of students with disabilities or English learner status was not available; families may want to ask the school directly about these support populations, especially given the student demographics and the district’s emphasis on bilingual education.
Academically, state proficiency rates at Baker Elementary are low in absolute terms. In math, about one in six students scored at or above the proficient level on the Colorado Measures of Academic Success. In English language arts, roughly one in five students reached proficiency. Science, tested only in fifth grade, shows a similar rate. These figures place Baker below statewide averages, but when compared with other elementary-level schools in Morgan County, Baker sits above the midpoint in overall proficiency across tested subjects. In other words, within a county where many schools struggle with similar challenges, Baker is toward the higher end. Participation rates on the assessments were very high, so the results reflect nearly all enrolled students.
The district has made several recent investments that affect Baker Elementary. Voters approved a mill levy override and bond issue in 2022, providing additional operational and capital funding. The board adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum in 2023, updating instructional materials across all elementary schools. The district also expanded its dual language immersion program to cover kindergarten through eighth grade, a significant option for families seeking bilingual education; it is not clear from available data whether Baker itself offers that program or if it is housed at other schools. A 1:1 technology initiative now provides a device to every student in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, which has district-wide application at Baker.
Fort Morgan is a community with a discernible downtown that includes the library and museum, a historic bridge, and Amtrak rail service. The school district operates multiple elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, and an early childhood center, so Baker sits within a network of options for families. Morgan Community College is also located in the city, providing a postsecondary presence.
For a family considering Baker Elementary, the portrait is of a school serving a high-poverty, majority-Hispanic community in a small city with a strong agricultural-industrial base. Academic proficiency rates are low in national terms, though they are around the middle among neighboring schools in the county. The district is actively investing in curriculum, technology, and bilingual pathways, and a recent property tax measure signals community support for school funding. Parents who want details on supports for English learners, special education, or the dual language program would need to follow up with the school directly, as these specifics were not available in the data provided.
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