The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in English language arts. The lowest is 36% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Garfield Elementary School
Garfield Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in Loveland, part of the Thompson School District R-2J. It is a smaller elementary school, and its student body is predominantly white, with a meaningful Hispanic share and small numbers of students from other racial backgrounds. A substantial portion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which places the school in a moderately high-need category among its peers.
Academically, Garfield Elementary presents a mixed picture. On the Colorado Measures of Academic Success, reading and writing (English language arts) is the school’s strongest tested subject, with a proficiency rate that sits above the midpoint among Larimer County school districts when looking at overall performance. Math proficiency is more modest, well below the level seen in English language arts, and that gap is something a parent may want to investigate further with the school. Science results, tested only in fifth grade, land between the two. The school’s overall proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades places it above the midpoint relative to other districts in Larimer County—a solid but not exceptional showing. Participation rates on state tests were high, so the results are a reliable read of student performance.
Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate or chronic absenteeism data to examine. The state does not report special education or English learner counts for this school in the available data, so a parent with a child in those populations would want to ask the school directly about the level of support.
The school sits in Loveland, a city that has grown from its agricultural and railroad roots into a diversified economy with manufacturing, healthcare, and retail. The historic downtown retains a small-town feel, while newer development has pushed east toward the Interstate 25 and U.S. Highway 34 interchange, where major shopping centers, a medical center, and an arena have been built. Housing values in the area are moderately priced for Colorado’s Front Range, and the rental market reflects that upward trend. Walkability varies: the older downtown core has a traditional grid and some shops, but much of the city is car-oriented, especially the newer eastern sections.
The Thompson School District has recently secured significant voter-approved funding. A bond measure and mill levy override passed in 2022, followed by another bond issue in 2024, both aimed at facility improvements, safety upgrades, and ongoing operational revenue. That means Garfield Elementary, like other schools in the district, may see physical updates and additional staffing or programs in the coming years, though how those resources reach this particular campus is not detailed in the available information.
For a family considering Garfield Elementary, the school offers a reasonably sized elementary setting where English language arts is a relative strength. The community is a mix of older neighborhoods near downtown and newer subdivisions farther east, with commuter access to Fort Collins and Denver. The math results are the main soft spot in the academic picture, and a parent would do well to ask about interventions and curriculum in that subject. Otherwise, this is a straightforward neighborhood elementary school in a growing district that is investing in its facilities.
See more original research from School Decision →