The top reported proficiency rate is 34% in English language arts. The lowest is 24% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Foster Dual Language Pk-8
Foster Dual Language PK-8 is a regular public school in Arvada that serves students from preschool through eighth grade. Its defining feature is the dual language program, meaning instruction is delivered in both English and another language throughout the elementary and middle school years. This is not a magnet or charter school; it is a neighborhood school with a focused bilingual model. Families choosing Foster are opting into an environment where language acquisition is central to the academic experience, which shapes both the curriculum and the peer dynamics.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a significant share of white students and smaller numbers of students who are Asian, Black, or multiracial. A substantial portion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a moderate-to-high poverty context. This economic profile is consistent with the surrounding area of Arvada, a largely residential suburb with a mix of older housing stock and newer development. Homes in the school’s attendance zone are priced in a mid-range for the Denver metro area, and rents are similarly moderate. Olde Towne Arvada offers a walkable historic core with shops and transit, but most of the city is car-dependent suburban fabric with wide arterials. The community has a working‑class and professional mix, shaped by light industry and professional offices.
On state assessments in math and English language arts for grades three through eight, proficiency rates are below the midpoint of what many parents would consider strong. The share of students scoring at proficient or above in math is roughly a quarter, and in ELA it is about a third. Science results for fifth grade are similar. The school’s participation rates in testing are exceptionally high, which means the results reflect nearly all enrolled students. A parent looking at these numbers will see room for growth, but the dual language approach can affect test performance in the early years as students build literacy in two languages simultaneously. The district did not provide data on English learner status or special education enrollment, so it is unclear how the school supports those populations. A family should ask the school directly about its English language development services and how it serves students with individualized education plans.
Because Foster serves PK through eighth grade, there are no high school outcomes such as graduation rates or college readiness metrics to evaluate. This is a feeder school that sends students to Jefferson County high schools, meaning the academic foundation built here matters for later placement. The school is a regular public school within the Jefferson County School District R-1, a large district that has seen significant upheaval recently. Voters approved a bond measure for capital improvements and technology upgrades, which should benefit Foster over time. The district also adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum aligned with the science of reading, so families can expect that shift to reach the lower grades. More disruptive is the ongoing consolidation process: the district proposed closing many schools in 2023, then reversed course after community opposition. A committee continues to study enrollment and capacity, and three school board members were recalled in 2024 over transparency concerns related to these plans. This means there is some uncertainty about long‑term school boundaries and whether Foster itself could face changes. Families moving into the area should stay informed about district decisions.
The school itself has a moderate enrollment for its grade band, with a class size that tapers down in the upper middle school grades. The dual language model means that classrooms mix students from different language backgrounds, which can create a distinctive peer environment compared to a typical suburban school. For a family that values bilingual education and is comfortable with a school whose test scores are modest, Foster may be a strong fit. Families who prioritize top-end academic metrics or who want a wide array of advanced courses might look elsewhere, but that kind of offering is uncommon in a PK‑8 setting anyway. The most important step is to visit and ask about how the dual language program works in practice, what the school’s approach to intervention is, and how the district’s consolidation discussions might affect the school in the coming years.
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