The top reported proficiency rate is 41% in English language arts. The lowest is 24% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Carmody Middle School
Carmody Middle School serves grades six through eight in Lakewood, Colorado, part of the Jefferson County Public Schools system. It is a regular public school, not a charter, and sits in a large suburban city immediately west of Denver. Lakewood combines mid-century residential subdivisions, commercial corridors along major highways, and large institutional campuses such as the Denver Federal Center, the largest concentration of federal agencies outside Washington, D.C. The city lacks a traditional downtown; its closest equivalent is the Belmar mixed-use district, built on the site of a former mall. The area is largely autocentric, though the RTD W Line light rail provides seven stations within the city.
The school enrolls a moderate number of students across three grades. The student body is predominantly White and Hispanic, with smaller shares of students who are Asian, Black, multiracial, or Native American. About half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that a substantial share of families face economic challenges. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available from the state, so a parent who wants to understand how the school serves these populations would need to ask the school directly.
Carmody’s academic results are mixed. On the Colorado Measures of Academic Success, ELA proficiency is roughly two-fifths of students, which is higher than science proficiency (also around two-fifths for eighth graders) and notably higher than math proficiency, where fewer than a quarter of students scored at the proficient level. The participation rate in testing was high for ELA and math, somewhat lower for science. These figures place the school below what many observers would consider strong performance, particularly in mathematics, and a parent may want to look into what supports are available for students who struggle in that subject. Because this is a middle school, there is no graduation rate to report, and multi-year trend data was not available, so it is not possible to see whether performance is improving or declining.
The district context matters for families considering Carmody. Jefferson County voters approved a large bond measure in 2024 for capital improvements, safety upgrades, and technology, which should bring facility investments in the coming years. The district also adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum aligned with the science of reading, a change that will affect students as they move into middle school. More notably, after a controversial plan to close sixteen schools in 2023 was reversed, the district formed a committee to study enrollment trends and potential consolidation, and in 2024 voters recalled three school board members amid concerns about transparency. These developments mean that families face some uncertainty about future school boundaries and district direction.
The housing market around Carmody reflects Lakewood’s broader affordability picture. Home values hover near the statewide median, and rents are moderate, though the cost of owning relative to renting is high given current mortgage rates. The local economy is anchored by the Denver Federal Center, Jefferson County Public Schools itself, several hospitals, and corporate headquarters such as FirstBank. Lakewood’s population growth has slowed to an incremental pace, with most new development taking the form of infill and redevelopment like Belmar rather than greenfield expansion.
No data on discipline, attendance, or staffing at Carmody was available for this account. School environment and course access information are also missing. A parent considering the school should ask about these topics directly, as well as seek more detail on how the school supports students who are behind grade level in math.
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