The top reported proficiency rate is 62% in English language arts. The lowest is 53% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hackberry Hill Elementary School
Hackberry Hill Elementary School serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade in Arvada, a largely residential city that grew rapidly as a Denver suburb after World War II. The school sits in the Jefferson County School District No. R-1 portion of the city. Arvada’s Olde Town historic district, with its shops, restaurants, and transit hub, is the civic heart, while the rest of the community is suburban in character, built around commercial corridors and a network of off-street bicycle and pedestrian trails.
Academically, Hackberry Hill’s state test results show a clear strength in literacy. On the Colorado Measures of Academic Success, a majority of students scored at or above the proficient level in English language arts, placing the school in a solid position. Math proficiency, while somewhat lower than reading, still reached a level that would give many families confidence. Science results, measured in fifth grade, also landed at a level that indicates a majority of students meet the state’s proficiency bar. For a parent, these numbers paint a picture of a school where most children are performing at grade level, with reading being a particular area of strength.
The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Latino population, and a share of students from other racial backgrounds. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, giving a sense of the range of economic circumstances families bring. The school is not a charter or magnet. That information, along with designation status for Title I, was not available in the data provided.
The housing market in Arvada’s zip code has seen some softening, with home values on a slight downward trend and rents holding relatively steady. For context, the median household income in Arvada as a whole, relative to national benchmarks, suggests a community that is solidly middle-class, though the city’s poverty rate is a reminder that this is not a uniformly affluent area. The commute pattern, with a mean travel time typical of a car-dependent suburb, means most families drive to work, though the G Line commuter rail offers an alternative for trips to downtown Denver.
The district that operates Hackberry Hill, Jefferson County R-1, is in a period of notable change. In 2024, voters approved a substantial bond measure for capital improvements, safety upgrades, and technology, marking the first such bond in many years. That same year, voters recalled three school board members, replacing them with new members, in a recall that stemmed from concerns about transparency and the handling of school consolidation plans. Earlier, the district had announced a plan to close a number of schools due to declining enrollment and budget deficits, then reversed that decision after community pushback, and instead formed a committee to study options. Families should be aware that this ongoing consolidation conversation means future boundary adjustments or school closures remain a possibility. In 2023, the district also adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum aligned with Colorado’s READ Act and the science of reading framework, a change that affects how reading is taught across all elementary schools.
A parent considering Hackberry Hill will find a school with solid academic results, particularly in reading, and a student body that reflects the broader Arvada community. The peer environment is typical of a suburban elementary school serving a middle-class base with a notable share of lower-income families. The context to weigh most carefully is the district-level turbulence around governance, consolidation talks, and the recent board recall, all of which could shape the school’s future in ways that are not yet settled. For families looking for a stable academic setting with no immediate red flags, Hackberry Hill fits, but the broader district picture means the ground may shift in the coming years.
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