The top reported proficiency rate is 31% in Science. The lowest is 16% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Lochbuie Elementary School
Lochbuie Elementary School is a regular public school in Weld County School District RE-3J, serving only grades three through five. That narrow grade span means the school is a transitional building—students arrive after primary grades and leave for middle school—so the experience is concentrated on a single developmental stage. With an enrollment in the low hundreds, the school is on the smaller side for a building serving three grade levels, which can mean more of a community feel and more attention from a staff whose size is proportionate.
State testing results are available for math, English language arts, and science, and they paint a picture that a parent will want to examine closely. Proficiency rates in all three subjects are modest. In math, roughly one in six students scored at a level the state considers proficient or above. In English language arts, the share is about one in four. Fifth-grade science results follow a similar pattern, with roughly three in ten students meeting the bar. These numbers are below the statewide average for elementary schools, and while the school’s overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint when compared with other Weld County districts, that comparison set includes many schools facing similar challenges. A parent with high academic expectations may want to ask the school about its approach to instruction, intervention strategies, and how it supports students who arrive below grade level.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic, making up close to two-thirds of enrollment, with White students representing about one-third and small shares of Asian and multiracial students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that many families face economic pressures. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available in the public record, so a parent should ask the school directly about those populations and the supports in place.
Lochbuie itself is a rapidly growing suburb along the I-76 corridor, east of Denver. The town originated as a mobile home park in the 1960s and has since experienced explosive growth, with many young families settling here. Housing values in the zip code have been rising in recent years but recently softened; rents are a significant share of a typical household income, making affordability a real consideration. The town has a handful of parks, designated open space, and is a short drive from Denver International Airport. There is no traditional downtown, and the area remains primarily residential, though the town has zoned land for future retail and industrial development. The district itself reported no recent major changes that would affect a parent’s decision.
Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism data were not available in the sources we examined. Discipline and staffing data were also absent, which is a gap a parent may want to fill by visiting the school or talking to current families.
Who this school fits. A family looking for a small, focused elementary setting in a fast-growing suburban community may find it a good match, especially if they are willing to engage directly with the school about academic support. The testing results are an honest signal—this is not a school with high proficiency numbers—but the school’s performance sits in the middle of its county peer group, meaning it is not an outlier. For a parent whose top priority is strong test scores or advanced programming, other options in the region may be worth investigating. For a parent who values a neighborhood school in a town full of young families and who is comfortable being an active partner in their child's learning, Lochbuie Elementary is worth a closer look.
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