The top reported proficiency rate is 22% in English language arts. The lowest is 9% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Bessemer Elementary School
Bessemer Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Pueblo, within Pueblo School District 60. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial white population and smaller shares of Black, multiracial, Native American, and Asian students. An overwhelming majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a context of concentrated poverty.
Academically, state testing results show that student proficiency rates in math and English language arts are below the midpoint among schools in Pueblo County. Science proficiency is also low. The school participates in Colorado’s statewide assessment program, and participation rates were high across all tested subjects. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what academic supports and interventions are in place.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Data on special populations such as students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the provided information. A parent may want to ask the school directly about these programs and the share of students they serve.
Pueblo itself, known historically as the “Steel City” for its long association with steel production, has a diversified economy today built around healthcare, education, and government. Major employers include UCHealth Parkview Medical Center, the Colorado Mental Health Hospital, Colorado State University Pueblo, and the school district itself, along with Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel and Walmart. The city sits at the confluence of the Arkansas River and Fountain Creek in a high-desert setting and hosts the annual Colorado State Fair and a Chile & Frijoles Festival, giving it a distinct regional cultural identity. The walkable core centers on the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk and the Union Avenue Historic Commercial District, while the broader city is auto-oriented and sprawling. Civic anchors include the riverwalk, the state fairgrounds, the Pueblo Convention Center, and CSU Pueblo’s campus, which sits away from the immediate downtown.
Housing in the area is modestly priced relative to state and national benchmarks. Home values have seen a slight decline recently, while rents have ticked up modestly. For a family, the monthly cost of renting is roughly comparable to an estimated mortgage payment, reflecting a market where ownership and renting are both accessible but not dramatically one-sided. The national economic context shows a steady unemployment rate and a median household income that has grown gradually over the past decade.
District-wide, Pueblo School District 60 voters approved a significant bond measure in 2022 to fund facility improvements and safety upgrades, the largest such bond in district history, which may mean ongoing construction or modernization at school buildings across the district. The district also reverted to its original name in recent years after a period of being called Pueblo City Schools, a rebranding that reflects a shift in district identity. These are developments a parent might want to track for their impact on the daily experience at Bessemer.
For a family considering Bessemer Elementary, the picture is of a school serving a high-poverty community in a mid-sized industrial city with a recovering and diversifying economy. The academic results are low against county and state benchmarks, which is the central fact for a parent weighing this option. The housing market is affordable relative to much of Colorado, and the city offers a defined cultural and civic life anchored by its riverwalk, fair, and university. A parent would want to ask what specific academic interventions, enrichment programs, and support services the school offers, and how the district’s recent bond investments have or will affect the building and programs at Bessemer.
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