The top reported proficiency rate is 71% in Math. The lowest is 63% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Fairmount Elementary School
Fairmount Elementary School is a regular public elementary school in Golden, Colorado, serving kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Jefferson County School District No. R-1. It sits within the Jefferson County public school system, the same district that covers much of the suburban Denver metro area west of the city.
State assessment results paint a picture of consistent academic performance. Fairmount’s students as a group reached levels of proficiency in math and English language arts that indicate most are meeting grade-level expectations. In science, the share of students scoring proficient or above was also strong, though a bit lower than in math and reading. Participation rates on all three tests were very high, meaning the results reflect nearly the entire student body. No trend data was available, so it is not possible to say whether these results are improving, holding, or declining from prior years. For a school that stops at fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report.
The student population is relatively large for an elementary school. The share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch is small, well below both state and national averages. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic students and Asian students, and very small numbers of students who are Black or multiracial. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about how it supports those groups.
Fairmount sits in Golden, a historic city at the foot of the Rocky Mountains along Clear Creek. Golden is the county seat of Jefferson County and combines a walkable downtown with the Colorado School of Mines, the Coors brewery complex, and established residential neighborhoods. Outdoor recreation is deeply integrated into daily life, with extensive city parks and trail access directly from downtown. The city has experienced steady population growth and is part of the expanding Denver metropolitan area, but its geography—surrounded by Table Mountains and Lookout Mountain—limits outward expansion, pushing development toward infill and redevelopment.
The housing market around Fairmount is expensive. Homes in the area command a high price, well above both state and national medians. Rents are also high. The combination of high housing costs and the small share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch suggests that the school serves a largely affluent attendance zone. Families considering moving into the area should weigh the cost of housing against the academic profile of the school.
The Jefferson County district has been in flux. Publicly reported information shows that voters approved a large bond measure for capital improvements, safety upgrades, and technology enhancements, the first such bond in many years. The district also adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum aligned with Colorado’s reading requirements. More notably, the district proposed closing many schools in response to declining enrollment and budget deficits, reversed that decision after community pushback, and then formed a committee to study consolidation options. In a related governance shift, three school board members were recalled and replaced, creating a different board composition that may shape future decisions about school closures, boundaries, and spending. These district-level dynamics mean that families committing to Fairmount should be aware that broader changes to the district’s footprint remain an open question.
Fairmount Elementary offers a straightforward academic pathway for elementary-aged children in an affluent, outdoor-oriented community. Its test results are solid, its student body is economically homogeneous, and its district is navigating enrollment and governance challenges. For a family that can afford the housing market and values a school with consistent proficiency rates in a small-city setting with extensive recreation, Fairmount is a clear option to investigate. The lack of data on special education and English learner populations, as well as the absence of multi-year trends, are gaps a parent may want to follow up on directly with the school.
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