The top reported proficiency rate is 23% in English language arts. The lowest is 13% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Prairie Elementary School
Prairie Elementary School serves prekindergarten through fifth grade in School District No. Re-11, which covers a wide stretch of eastern Weld County. The school is the only elementary in the district and sits in New Raymer, an extremely small agricultural town on the high plains near the Pawnee National Grasslands. The town itself has a historic core along Centre Avenue, where several buildings have been placed on state and national historic registers, and its economy revolves around farming, ranching, and the nearby Missile Alert Facility. New Raymer is not experiencing growth; the primary development activity is historic preservation rather than new housing. For a family considering this school, the setting is deeply rural and car-dependent, with a very small population and limited commercial or civic infrastructure beyond a post office, a rodeo arena, and the grassland access.
Enrollment at Prairie Elementary is small, with roughly three-quarters of students in a typical elementary building of this grade band. The student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of Hispanic students and a very small number of Asian students. About three in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that places it below the county average for economic disadvantage but still represents a notable share of the school community. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so a family with a child who has an IEP or is an English learner should ask the school directly about supports.
State testing results for the most recent year show that in math, roughly one in eight students scored at proficient or above, and in English language arts, about one in five did. These proficiency rates place the school in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Weld County. The number of students tested in each subject was small, and participation was just over eight in ten, which is slightly below the typical threshold for full reporting. Science results for fifth grade were suppressed, likely because too few students took the test or the data did not meet privacy thresholds. Overall, the academic picture is one of low attainment on state assessments. A parent should look into how the school identifies and supports students who are below grade level and what instructional strategies are in place. The school’s small size may allow for individual attention, but the data does not speak to that directly—no information on staffing ratios, class sizes, or intervention programs was provided.
Because Prairie Elementary serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate, and course access data such as advanced or career pathways is not applicable. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and its Title I status was not reported. The district itself did not have any recent parent-relevant changes or strategic priorities surfaced in available materials, so the landscape appears stable but without publicly visible initiatives for improvement.
This is a school that fits a family looking for a very small, rural setting where the community is tight-knit and the pace of life is slow. The academic numbers are low compared to county peers, and the tested cohort is tiny, so year-to-year swings can be large. Families who prioritize a high-proficiency environment or a wide array of programs will want to look further. Those who value a plain, no-frills elementary in a historic plains town with open grassland nearby may find it a workable match, provided they are comfortable with the academic profile and the long drive to any urban amenities.
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