The top reported proficiency rate is 68% in Science. The lowest is 66% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Ray E Kilmer Elementary School
Ray E Kilmer Elementary School is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in Colorado Springs, part of the Lewis-Palmer Consolidated School District No. 38. It draws from a residential stretch of the city’s northern fringe, where the suburban edge meets the high-desert terrain at the base of Pikes Peak. The school is sizable enough to offer multiple sections across its grade span, with enrollment that fits a mid-sized elementary.
Academically, this is a place where most students are meeting state benchmarks. On the Colorado Measures of Academic Success, a strong majority of test takers scored at the proficient or advanced levels in math and English language arts. Science results, assessed only at fifth grade, followed a similar pattern. When measured against other districts across El Paso County, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades lands in the top quartile. That position signals a consistently high-performing academic environment by regional standards, though the absence of multi-year trend data means a parent cannot see whether this is a stable plateau or a recent climb.
The student body is predominantly white, with a smaller but noticeable Hispanic presence and students who identify as two or more races; Asian and Black students are represented in very small numbers. A modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that while the school serves some families with economic need, the overall community is relatively well-off. Data on students with disabilities and English learners is not available in the records reviewed, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about support services for those populations. No discipline, attendance, or staffing data were reported in the available profile, leaving a gap in understanding the day-to-day climate and resource allocation.
The housing market around the school is expensive. Home values and rents are well above national medians, consistent with Colorado Springs’ desirability as a place to live. The broader city has grown steadily, driven by military bases, aerospace and defense contractors, tourism, and a reputation for outdoor recreation. The school sits within a district that the records show no recent major changes or controversies publicly reported; the brief search for parent-relevant district developments turned up nothing specific, so families likely experience a stable administrative backdrop.
Colorado Springs itself is a car-dependent, sprawling city. Kilmer Elementary is in a residential neighborhood on the north side, a short distance from the U.S. Air Force Academy and Fort Carson, two of the area’s dominant employers. The city’s economy is rooted in defense, high-tech manufacturing, and tourism, and it continues to add population. For a family considering this school, the trade-off involves high housing costs in exchange for strong academic outcomes and the amenities of a growing metro area with ample outdoor access.
No program offerings were listed in the available data, so enrichment, gifted, or specialized tracks are not documented here. That absence does not mean they do not exist, but a prospective parent should verify what is available beyond the core curriculum. The school’s strong proficiency record suggests a solid foundation in reading, math, and science, and its place in the top tier of county districts makes it a competitive option for families who can afford the area’s housing market.
See more original research from School Decision →