The top reported proficiency rate is 62% in English language arts. The lowest is 50% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Hutchinson Elementary School
Hutchinson Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Lakewood, a large suburban city immediately west of Denver. The school is part of Jefferson County School District R-1, the state’s second-largest district, which in recent years has experienced significant governance shifts and policy changes that families should be aware of.
The school is a regular public elementary school with a moderate enrollment for its grade band. Its student body is predominantly white, with a Hispanic minority and small numbers of students identifying with other racial and ethnic groups. About three in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a share that is toward the lower end among Colorado public schools and indicates a relatively less economically diverse population than many other elementaries in the region. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not reported in the available records, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the support structures for those populations.
On the 2024-25 Colorado Measures of Academic Success, Hutchinson posted results that place it comfortably above the midpoint in the state. In math, slightly more than half of students scored at the proficient or advanced level. In English language arts, the share was a bit higher, approaching two-thirds. For science, which is tested only in grade five, about half of students met the proficiency benchmark. These are solid, not exceptional, results—solid enough that a family focused on academic foundations would likely find the school adequate, while a family seeking a top-performing elementary might want to compare with other options in the area. Participation rates in all three subjects were high, lending reliability to the scores.
The school environment is shaped by its suburban Lakewood setting. The surrounding neighborhood is a mix of mid-century subdivisions, strip commercial corridors, and newer mixed-use development, most notably the Belmar district, which provides a pedestrian-oriented core with shopping, dining, and apartments. The city is car-dependent overall, though the RTD light-rail W Line has stations within Lakewood and provides transit connections to Denver. Housing costs in the school’s zip code are well above the national median, reflecting the area’s desirability and proximity to Denver’s job market. Rents are also moderately high relative to income, meaning that families moving into the attendance zone should budget accordingly.
Hutchinson’s parent district, Jefferson County R-1, has been in motion. In 2024, voters approved a substantial bond measure for capital improvements, safety upgrades, and technology—the first bond passed since a prior measure in a previous era. That same election saw three school board members recalled over concerns about transparency and the handling of potential school closures, and three new members were seated. The district had previously announced a plan to close sixteen schools due to declining enrollment, reversed the decision after community backlash, and formed a committee to study consolidation options. Families should expect continued discussion about school boundaries and possible closures. On the curriculum side, the district adopted a new elementary literacy program in 2023 aligned with Colorado’s READ Act and the science of reading, which is now in place across all Jefferson County elementaries.
Because Hutchinson serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, no course access data for advanced or career pathways, and no discipline or chronic absenteeism numbers in the available records. A parent interested in the school’s approach to student behavior or attendance should ask the administration directly. Overall, Hutchinson Elementary presents a familiar picture: a mid-sized suburban public school with decent test scores, a largely white and moderately affluent student body, and a stable but not elite academic profile, set within a district that is navigating enrollment decline, facility investment, and shifting school board priorities.
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