The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in English language arts. The lowest is 10% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Great Work Montessori
Great Work Montessori is a closed school. It operated as a public charter school in Lakewood, Colorado, within the Jefferson County School District R-1, and its Montessori program served a multi-age grade span that the state records as “M through M”—the typical Montessori structure where children of different ages learn together in the same classroom rather than being separated into single-grade cohorts. Because the school is no longer active, the picture that follows is a backward look at what it offered and how it performed in its final years, set against the community context that still exists for families considering the area.
The most recent state assessment data from the school’s last year of operation show that in reading and math, the share of students scoring proficient or above was low compared to statewide averages. In math, roughly one out of ten students met that bar; in English language arts, the figure was about three out of ten. Science results for the tested grades were suppressed and not reported, so no judgment can be made there. A notable feature of those test results is that participation rates were well below typical levels—only about six in ten eligible students took the math test and about seven in ten took the English test. When fewer students participate, the results may not fully reflect the performance of the entire student body, and a parent looking at these numbers historically may want to understand whether that pattern was driven by opt-outs, absences, or school-specific factors. The school’s enrollment numbers, demographic breakdown, and counts of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals were not available, so the composition of the student body cannot be described from this data.
The school’s Montessori approach itself is a pedagogical choice that some families seek out for its emphasis on self-directed learning, mixed-age groupings, and hands-on materials. The charter designation meant the school had its own governance and could operate independently of some district policies while remaining publicly funded. Because the school is now closed, families who were considering Great Work Montessori will need to look into the reasons for the closure and explore alternative Montessori or charter options in the area.
Lakewood, the city where the school was located, is a large, predominantly suburban municipality immediately west of Denver. Its built environment is largely autocentric, with commercial development concentrated along major highways and arterial roads. The city lacks a traditional historic downtown; the closest equivalent is Belmar, a master-planned mixed-use district built on the site of a former shopping mall that includes retail, apartments, and restaurants in a walkable grid. The Denver Federal Center, the largest concentration of federal agencies outside Washington, D.C., is a major employer, along with the school district itself, St. Anthony Hospital, and private-sector employers such as FirstBank and Terumo BCT. Housing values in the area around the school have been moderately high relative to national levels, and the typical rent for a home exceeds what many households could afford without spending a significant portion of income. The city’s growth has slowed from the rapid expansion of the mid-20th century to a more incremental, redevelopment-focused pattern.
The Jefferson County district that housed Great Work Montessori has been through a period of significant change. In 2024, voters approved a bond measure for capital improvements, safety upgrades, and technology—the first bond passed by district voters in many years. The district also adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum aligned with state reading requirements. At the same time, an attempt to close a number of schools due to declining enrollment was met with strong community opposition and was reversed, though a committee continues to study consolidation options. School board membership shifted after a recall election in 2024, meaning the district’s direction on issues like school closures and budget priorities remains unsettled. For families weighing a move into the district, these recent events signal that the governance landscape is still evolving.
Because Great Work Montessori is closed, there are no current programs, extracurriculars, or graduation metrics to report. A family interested in this school’s specific Montessori approach would need to find whether its program has been absorbed elsewhere or look for other Montessori charters in the area. The broader Lakewood and Jeffco context, however, remains relevant for anyone choosing where to live and what schools to consider.
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