The top reported proficiency rate is 26% in English language arts. The lowest is 15% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Longs Peak Middle School
Longmont is a mid-sized city with a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial character, and its history includes a transition from agriculture and food processing toward high-tech and manufacturing. The largest employer in the city is the St. Vrain Valley School District itself. Longs Peak Middle School, a regular public school for fifth through eighth grade, serves a segment of the community within that district.
The student body at Longs Peak Middle School is diverse and economically challenged. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school’s enrollment reflects a predominantly Hispanic student population, with the next largest group being white students. Data on the share of students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and those classified as English learners was not available from the reporting.
On state assessments, the school’s performance falls well below typical levels for the state in math and English language arts, and this pattern holds for science across both tested grades. The overall proficiency rate across subjects sits in the bottom quartile among schools in Boulder County districts, a group that includes a few other district entities. The school’s participation rates for testing were high in most subjects, though the eighth-grade science participation rate was slightly lower. A parent looking at these outcomes would want to talk with the school about what academic supports are in place, how curriculum and instruction are being addressed, and whether there are specific interventions for students who are performing below grade level.
The school serves a sizable combined enrollment across grades six through eight, with a smaller fifth-grade class. Longs Peak does not offer high school grades, so no graduation rate applies. State testing data reflects the grade levels tested: fifth grade takes science, eighth grade takes science, and all middle grades take math and English language arts. There is no information on program offerings such as advanced courses or electives, nor on chronic absenteeism or discipline rates, so the picture of day-to-day school environment is incomplete from the data. Similarly, class size and staffing data were not available.
The district, St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J, approved a large capital projects bond in 2024, the largest in its history, which will pay for school construction, renovations, and facility improvements across its sixty schools and programs. That investment may affect Longs Peak Middle School, but how the bond proceeds will be allocated to this specific school is not detailed.
Longmont itself offers a range of civic amenities that might matter to a family considering the school. The city’s downtown along Main Street has seen a revival and supports a restaurant and craft brewing scene. The city was recognized as a silver-level bicycle-friendly community, and it operates a municipal gigabit fiber-optic network. Public transit connects Longmont to Denver and Boulder via bus, with a planned commuter rail extension potentially coming in the early 2040s. The city has a substantial number of parks and open space, a museum, and a public library with a long history. St. Vrain Creek flows through the city just south of the center. Housing values in the area are slightly below the state benchmark, and rents have been rising modestly. The area is part of the Front Range growth corridor, which has seen steady population increases over time.
Overall, Longs Peak Middle School presents itself as a school that serves a high-needs student population in a community with a solid district investment plan and a city with a range of amenities. The primary, and significant, concern for a parent will be the low academic performance on state assessments. This is a place where a family would want to look closely at the school’s specific academic strategies and support structures to see if they align with their child’s needs.
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