The top reported proficiency rate is 41% in English language arts. The lowest is 16% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on James Madison Charter Academy School
James Madison Charter Academy School serves kindergarten through eighth grade as a regular public charter school within School District No. 3 in El Paso County (Widefield 3), located in Colorado Springs. The school is small, with an enrollment that fits a single-building K-8 model, giving families a school where students can stay in the same setting from their first year through the end of middle school.
The student body is diverse. White students make up the largest group, followed by Hispanic students, Black students, students who identify as two or more races, and small numbers of Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native students. About half qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a measure that places the school in a middle ground on economic need.
Academically, the school's test results present a split picture. On the Colorado Measures of Academic Success, English language arts proficiency exceeds the midpoint among districts in El Paso County, with more than two in five students reaching the proficient or advanced level. That is a clear strength. Math results are much lower, with a share of students scoring proficient that falls well below the same county midpoint. Parents considering the school will want to understand how math instruction and support are structured, and what plans the school has for improving those outcomes. Science results for grades five and eight were suppressed in state reporting, which typically reflects a small tested cohort; the school did test with full participation, but no proficiency rate was published.
The school's overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades places it slightly above the midpoint relative to other districts in El Paso County. This is a useful benchmark, though the index combines the higher English scores with the lower math ones into a single figure. The school has no high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report, and data on chronic absenteeism was not available.
Colorado Springs is a large, car-dependent city shaped by the military and aerospace sectors, with Fort Carson, Peterson and Schriever space force bases, and the U.S. Air Force Academy anchoring the regional economy. Tourism and a growing high-tech sector add employment. The city has grown rapidly in recent decades and continues to expand outward. Housing values in the school's ZIP code are below the state average and close to the national benchmark, which may matter for families weighing school options against affordability. No recent parent-relevant changes to the district were identified in available sources.
For a family, the school's main draws are its charter structure, small size, and a K-8 continuum that avoids a separate middle school transition. The English language arts results are solid for the area. The math results give pause, and a parent should ask the school about intervention strategies and curriculum. The school does not serve high school, so families will need a plan for ninth grade placement. The broader district context appears stable, with no recent disruptions to note. This is a school that fits best for families who want a small, continuous K-8 environment in a growing but still affordable part of the Colorado Springs metro area, and who are prepared to engage directly on the math question.
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