The top reported proficiency rate is 31% in English language arts. The lowest is 22% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Pete Mirich Elementary School
Pete Mirich Elementary School serves students from preschool through fifth grade in LaSalle, a small town in Weld County. It is a regular public school within the Weld County Re-1 district, and its enrollment is about what one would expect for an elementary school serving a compact community. The student body is roughly split between Hispanic and White students, with a much smaller share of students identifying as two or more races, and very small numbers of Asian and Black students. About half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need that is common in this part of the state.
On state assessments, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it above the midpoint among the districts in Weld County. That is a fair relative showing, though the raw proficiency rates themselves are modest. In math and English language arts, which are tested in grades three through five, fewer than one in three students scored at the proficient or advanced level. A parent considering this school would likely want to ask what supports are in place for students who are not yet meeting those benchmarks and how the school tracks individual growth. Science results for fifth graders are reported in a way that makes the proficiency rate itself unavailable, though the average score was recorded; the school’s participation rate in testing was above the threshold that typically triggers suppression, so the missing proficiency figure is likely handled by the state for data privacy reasons.
No data on chronic absenteeism, special education identification, or English learner enrollment were available for this school, so it is not possible to give a picture of those dimensions. Similarly, the district brief did not turn up any recent parent-relevant changes to the district’s operations or programming that would affect a family’s decision. The school itself has no charter or magnet designation and no information on Title I status was provided.
LaSalle, where the school is located, is a small town with a history rooted in the railroad and agricultural industries, and more recently, oil and gas companies have established a presence. It functions largely as a bedroom community for nearby Greeley, where most residents commute for shopping and work. The town is compact, with a built environment of low-density residential areas and a modest commercial footprint. Key civic anchors include a community center housed in a restored train depot, a volunteer fire department, a police department, and a ball field. Housing values in the area are in a range that is moderate for the Front Range, and the town has experienced some growth over recent decades, though many longtime businesses have closed as services have centralized in Greeley.
For a family, Pete Mirich offers a neighborhood elementary school in a small-town setting with a somewhat diverse student population and a moderate level of economic need. Academically, the school performs better than many of its district peers within the county, but the share of students meeting state proficiency standards is relatively low in absolute terms. This is the kind of place where a parent would want to look closely at how the school addresses foundational reading and math skills, and whether the local community’s limited commercial and recreational options fit their lifestyle.
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