The top reported proficiency rate is 60% in English language arts. The lowest is 44% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Red Hawk Elementary
Red Hawk Elementary is a regular public school in Erie serving preschool through fifth grade as part of the St. Vrain Valley School District. It is not a charter or magnet school.
The school’s student body is predominantly white, with a much smaller share of Hispanic and Asian students and a very small share of Black or multiracial students. A modest share of the student population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, below what is typical in many Colorado elementary schools. Data on the share of students with individualized education programs and the share designated as English learners was not available from the source materials, so a full picture of the special-population support context is incomplete.
Red Hawk’s academic performance on Colorado’s state assessments places it in a strong position relative to other schools in Boulder County. Proficiency rates in both English language arts and math were above the midpoint for the county, and the school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades landed in the top quartile of its comparison set. Students in tested elementary grades showed solid results in reading and math. Science proficiency was lower, though it is important to note that science is tested only in fifth grade, so the snapshot is narrower. A parent considering the school would want to learn more from the school about how it addresses science instruction across the earlier grades.
The neighborhood around the school sits in Erie, a suburban community that has grown rapidly over the past two decades. The town has been adding new subdivisions and master-planned communities, and it still has room to expand further based on its planning area. Housing values in the zip code are high and have been pulling back slightly. Rents have also softened. The housing market is expensive relative to national benchmarks, which shapes the income profile of the families who live in the attendance area. Erie has a historic Old Town district with restaurants and arts programming, but most of the town is built around car-dependent suburban development. The district itself approved a large capital bond in 2024 to fund school construction and facility improvements across its 60 schools, which could affect capacity and facility quality at Red Hawk over time.
The school is large for its grade band, something a family may want to consider when thinking about class sizes and community feel. Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. Chronic absenteeism data also was not available from the source materials. A parent evaluating Red Hawk should ask the school directly about student attendance patterns and how the school tracks and supports students who miss class time.
For a family looking at a suburban, high-growth community with a professional workforce, Red Hawk offers a strong academic floor among its peers in the county. The student body is relatively homogenous economically, and the community is one of the pricier housing markets in the region. The school’s results suggest it delivers consistent proficiency in literacy and math, with room for inquiry into science performance and special populations support. The district’s recent investment in facilities signals that the building and its resources may see improvements in coming years.
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