The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in English language arts. The lowest is 36% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Manitou Springs Elementary School
Manitou Springs Elementary School is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade in the small, historic tourist town of Manitou Springs, located at the foot of Pikes Peak in western El Paso County. The school is part of the Manitou Springs School District 14, a compact district that serves the town and its immediate surroundings. The town itself is known for its independent, “keep it weird” character, with a walkable downtown lined with local shops, restaurants, and creekside parks. Tourism drives the local economy, and the town’s geography—bordered by mountains and covered by a large National Historic District—limits new development and gives the community a stable, built-out feel.
Academically, the school performs well relative to other elementary schools in districts across El Paso County. On the Colorado Measures of Academic Success assessments, overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places the school in the top quarter of the county. In English language arts, about half of students met the proficiency standard, while in math the share was lower, and in science—tested only in fifth grade—about two out of five students were proficient. Participation rates on these assessments were very high, which supports the reliability of the results. For a family considering the school, these numbers suggest solid academic footing, though the math scores are an area to watch and a parent may want to ask the school about its approach to math instruction and intervention.
The student body is predominantly white, with a notable Hispanic population and a sizable share identifying as two or more races. Just over two out of five students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a meaningful share and indicates a range of economic backgrounds among families. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available, so a parent should ask the school directly about the populations and supports it provides for those groups. The school’s size is moderate for an elementary school serving grades PK through 5, large enough to offer some peer diversity but small enough that students are likely to be well known to staff.
Housing in the school’s attendance area commands prices above the statewide average, reflecting the desirable location near Pikes Peak and the tourist amenities of Manitou Springs. Rental costs are also substantial, and the combination of high housing costs and a limited supply of new homes makes this a relatively expensive place to live compared with much of the county. The town’s population has seen modest growth, but physical and regulatory constraints keep the housing market tight.
At the district level, voters in 2023 extended an existing mill levy override without raising the tax rate, securing ongoing funding for teacher and staff compensation and educational programs. This suggests the community is invested in maintaining the quality of its schools, even as the town’s fiscal base relies heavily on tourism.
Overall, Manitou Springs Elementary offers a small-town setting with academic results that stand out within the county. The school’s strengths lie in English language arts and a generally supportive community context. Families moving to the area should expect a walkable, tourist-oriented town with high housing costs and a school that performs above average compared with its county peers, though math proficiency is an area to explore further. Missing data on special education and English learner services means those are important questions to raise with the school directly.
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