The top reported proficiency rate is 34% in English language arts. The lowest is 25% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Foothills Elementary School
Foothills Elementary School is a regular public school in Lakewood, Colorado, serving students from preschool through fifth grade within the Jefferson County School District R-1. It is one of many elementary schools spread across this large suburban city west of Denver. The school's enrollment is moderate for its grade band, and the student body is diverse in background: half of the students are White, roughly a third are Hispanic, and the remainder includes students who are Asian, Black, multiracial, or American Indian. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a context where many families face economic pressures.
On state assessments given in grades three through five, the share of students meeting Colorado’s proficiency benchmarks was modest. In math, about one in four students scored at the proficient level or above. In English language arts, the proportion was roughly one in three. Fifth-grade science results followed a similar pattern, with slightly more than a quarter of students reaching proficiency. These rates are lower than what many families expect, and a parent may want to speak with the school about the academic supports and interventions available to help students catch up or strengthen foundational skills. Participation rates on the tests were high, so the results reflect nearly all enrolled students in those grades.
The school sits in a zip code where housing is expensive relative to typical values across Colorado. Home prices are well above the state median, and rents are similarly high, meaning that owning a home in this area requires significant income. The broader Lakewood housing market has seen small recent declines in both purchase and rental prices, but affordability remains a challenge for many households in the community.
Lakewood itself is a large, predominantly suburban city with a mix of residential neighborhoods, commercial strips along major highways, and large institutional employers such as the Denver Federal Center and several colleges. The city’s development history is one of rapid mid-century growth followed by slower, redevelopment-focused change in recent years. Notable recent projects include Belmar, a pedestrian-oriented mixed-use district built on the site of a former mall, and the W Line light rail extending to downtown Denver. Walkable street life is concentrated in Belmar and near a few transit nodes; most of the city is autocentric. Parks, lakes, and open spaces like Bear Creek Lake Park and Green Mountain provide recreational options.
The district that runs Foothills Elementary, Jefferson County R-1, has been through significant changes recently. Voters approved a substantial bond measure in 2024 for capital improvements, safety upgrades, and technology, the first such bond in many years. The district also adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum aligned with the science of reading, beginning in the 2023-24 school year. More contentiously, the district announced a plan to close sixteen schools in 2023 due to declining enrollment, reversed that decision after community backlash, and formed a committee to study consolidation options. In late 2024, voters recalled three school board members over transparency and consolidation handling, replacing them with new members. These governance shifts mean families face ongoing uncertainty about school closures and boundary changes, even if Foothills Elementary itself has not been flagged for closure in current discussions.
For a family considering Foothills Elementary, the picture is one of a school serving a diverse, majority-low-income student population with academic outcomes that trail state averages. The surrounding community offers stable housing at a high price point, a mix of suburban and some urban amenities, and a school district navigating fiscal and demographic pressures. Parents who value a diverse peer environment and are prepared to engage actively with the school on academic support may find it a fit. Those seeking higher measured performance or more predictable district direction may want to explore other options in Jefferson County.
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