The top reported proficiency rate is 45% in Math. The lowest is 42% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Centennial Elementary
Centennial Elementary serves students from preschool through fifth grade in Firestone, a fast-growing suburb in Weld County that has transformed from a coal mining town into one of Colorado's most rapidly expanding residential communities. The school sits within the St. Vrain Valley School District, a system that recently secured the largest capital bond in its history for construction and facility upgrades across its schools.
The student body is predominantly white, with a sizable Hispanic population and smaller shares of Asian, multiracial, Black, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that positions the school as serving a moderate but not especially high share of economically disadvantaged families. This is a school of roughly average elementary size for the area, with enrollment spread fairly evenly across kindergarten through fifth grade.
Centennial's academic results place it at the higher end of elementary schools in Weld County. On the Colorado Measures of Academic Success, the school posted proficiency rates in math and English language arts that exceeded the typical levels seen across the county's elementary schools. Science proficiency, tested only in fifth grade, also came in above the midpoint among county schools. The school's overall proficiency index landed in the top quartile of Weld County elementary schools for which data was available. A parent looking at the numbers will see a school whose students, on average, are meeting state standards at rates that compare favorably with those of nearby schools.
Test participation rates were high, which lends confidence to the reported results. The school does not serve grades where a graduation rate would apply, and data on chronic absenteeism was not available. Information on special education and English learner populations was also absent from the available data, so a parent with a child who needs those services should ask the school directly about what supports are in place.
The community around Centennial is shaped by Firestone's explosive growth. The town added population at a rapid clip over the past two decades and continues to develop, with multiple new residential subdivisions under construction. The built environment consists mostly of newer single-family homes on a suburban grid, connected by arterial roads and an extensive trail system. There is no traditional downtown; civic life revolves around parks, the Firestone/Legacy Trail, and planned community gathering spaces like the future Central Park. Major employers are retail and municipal, and many residents commute to jobs in the broader Denver-Boulder metro area.
Housing values in the area are somewhat above state averages, and rents are similarly elevated relative to national benchmarks. The combination of rising home prices and continued new construction means that families moving into the neighborhood will find a market where homeownership is pricey but new inventory is available. The district's recent bond investment signals that school capacity and facility quality are receiving sustained attention as the community grows.
For a family considering Centennial, the picture is straightforward. This is a suburban elementary school in a high-growth corridor, serving a majority-white student body with a significant Hispanic minority and a moderate share of low-income students. Its academic performance is solid relative to other Weld County schools. The broader district is investing heavily in infrastructure. The main considerations for a parent will be whether the school's demographic and academic profile fits their priorities, and whether the fast-growing community around it—with its limited walkability, lack of downtown, and suburban layout—meets their expectations for daily life.
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