The reported proficiency rate for English language arts is 13%.
Original Research by School Decision on Molholm Elementary School
Molholm Elementary School is closed and no longer operates as a public school in Lakewood, Colorado. It was a regular public school within Jefferson County School District No. R-1, but the school’s operational status is listed as closed, meaning there is no current enrollment, no active student body, and no ongoing academic programs. For families researching schools in the area, the most relevant fact is that Molholm Elementary is not an option for enrollment.
Because the school is closed, most of the standard data fields are empty. The only academic performance information available comes from state testing in the 2022-23 school year, before the closure. That year, Molholm Elementary participated in Colorado’s state assessments. In English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or above was very low. In mathematics, the proficiency result was suppressed, meaning the state did not release it, likely due to small group sizes. Science results for fifth grade were also suppressed. A total of about 98 students took the math test, and roughly 78 took the ELA test, so the school had a modest number of test-takers. The average scale scores for math and science were below the state’s proficient threshold, and the ELA average was also low. A parent looking at these numbers would see that the school’s academic performance was well below typical expectations, though the school’s closure means this data is now historical.
No enrollment, demographic, or free-and-reduced-lunch data is available because the school had already closed by the time those records were collected. There is no information on the share of students qualifying for meal assistance, the racial and ethnic composition, the number of students with disabilities, or English learner enrollment. The school’s grade band is listed as “M through M,” which does not clearly indicate the specific grades served, though the state testing included grades three through five, consistent with an elementary school. The directory confirms the school type was a regular school, not a charter or magnet.
The surrounding community is Lakewood, a large suburban city west of Denver. Lakewood is home to the Denver Federal Center, several colleges, and major employers like Jefferson County School District R-1 and St. Anthony Hospital. The city has a mix of mid-century subdivisions, commercial corridors, and newer walkable districts like Belmar. The RTD W Line light rail connects Lakewood to Denver. Housing in the area carries a typical cost for the Denver metro region, with monthly rents and mortgage costs that are substantial relative to national averages, but no current school is attached to this specific site.
The district context is also relevant. Jefferson County R-1 has been through significant change in recent years. In 2024, voters approved a large bond measure for facility and technology improvements, the first such bond in many years. The district adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum in 2023. There was a contentious proposal in 2023 to close 16 schools, which was reversed after community backlash, and a committee continues to study consolidation. In late 2024, voters recalled three school board members amid concerns about transparency and handling of consolidation plans. These district-level shifts mean that families in Lakewood have been navigating some uncertainty about school closures and governance.
For a parent or resident reading this, the clear takeaway is that Molholm Elementary School is not a viable option. The building may have been repurposed or sold, but the data does not provide that detail. The historical test scores show a school that struggled academically, but that is now a matter of record, not a current concern. Anyone looking at this school should instead investigate other elementary schools in Jefferson County R-1 that are currently open, taking into account the district’s ongoing consolidation discussions and recent board changes. The Lakewood area offers a range of public school choices, and the district’s bond funding may lead to facility improvements in the coming years. But this particular school is closed and will not reappear.
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