The top reported proficiency rate is 71% in English language arts. The lowest is 42% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on The Connect Charter School
The Connect Charter School is a public charter middle school in Pueblo, Colorado, serving grades six through eight. It operates under Pueblo County School District 70, which has a four-day school week, a lasting change that affects family routines and childcare needs for every student in the district. The school enrolls a student body that is roughly split between students who identify as Hispanic and those who identify as White, with smaller shares of students identifying as two or more races, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Black. The school does not report data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, nor on the share of students with an individualized education program or who are English learners, so it is not possible to characterize those dimensions of the student population from the available information.
Academically, The Connect Charter School shows a notable strength in English language arts. On the state's standardized assessment, a large majority of students met or exceeded the proficiency benchmark. This places the school well above the typical performance among middle schools in Pueblo County, as its overall proficiency index across tested subjects falls in the top quartile relative to other schools in the county. Mathematics performance is more mixed: about half of students reached the proficiency level, which is meaningfully above the county median but indicates that a substantial share of students are not yet at that benchmark. Science results, which are measured only at the eighth-grade level, show a lower share of students reaching proficiency, a pattern parents may wish to discuss with the school to understand how science instruction and support are structured across the middle grades.
Pueblo itself is a mid-sized city with a deep industrial heritage, historically centered on steel production. Today the economy is more diversified, with healthcare, education, and government as major sectors. The city has a historic downtown anchored by the Arkansas Riverwalk and the Union Avenue Historic Commercial District, but outside the downtown core the city is largely auto-oriented. Major employers include UCHealth Parkview Medical Center, the Colorado Mental Health Hospital, the two public school districts, and Colorado State University Pueblo. The city is positioning itself for solar energy development. Housing values in the school's zip code are below both the state and national benchmarks, and rents have been rising recently, while the typical home value has seen a modest decline. For a family considering this school, these housing costs are relatively affordable in the broader Colorado context.
As a charter school, The Connect Charter School operates with some autonomy from the district. Enrollment is moderate for a middle school. The school's proficiency outcomes in English language arts are a clear draw, while the math and science results present a more mixed picture that a family would want to learn more about, particularly for a student who struggles in those subjects or who excels and needs advanced work. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Parents should note that the district's four-day week schedule shapes the rhythm of the school year and may require adjustments for after-school care and enrichment activities.
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