The top reported proficiency rate is 30% in English language arts. The lowest is 16% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Metropolitan Arts Academy
Metropolitan Arts Academy serves students from preschool through eighth grade in Denver, though it is part of the Westminster Public Schools district. The school operates as a regular public school, not a charter, and its name signals an arts focus, though specific program offerings were not available in the data reviewed.
On state assessments administered in grades three through eight, roughly one in six students met proficiency in math. In English language arts, about three in ten students scored proficient or above. Science is tested at two grade levels: in fifth grade, roughly one in five students were proficient, while in eighth grade about one in three reached that bar. The school’s overall proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades placed it above the midpoint relative to other districts in Adams County. Participation rates on all three assessments were complete. These results paint a picture of a school where a portion of students are meeting grade-level expectations, and a parent may want to ask the school about academic support and intervention strategies for students who are not yet proficient.
The student body is small for its PK–8 grade band, and the large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Hispanic students make up the great majority of enrollment, with White students being the next largest group. The school serves a very high-need population in terms of economic disadvantage, though data on the share of students with disabilities or who are English learners was not available, so a parent should look into those supports directly. Because the school does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report.
The school is located in Denver, a consolidated city-county and state capital that functions as the principal commercial and transportation hub for the Rocky Mountain West. Denver’s economy spans telecommunications, aerospace, software, financial services, health care, and tourism, and it hosts the headquarters of several national firms. The city has a dense downtown core with cultural institutions, professional sports teams, and a large university presence. The surrounding residential area includes the zip code in which the school sits, where home values are below the state average and have declined moderately over the past year, while rents have held steady. The housing market in this part of Adams County is more affordable than many parts of the Denver metro area, which may be relevant for families considering the area.
District-level information on recent bond measures, curriculum changes, or other parent-relevant developments was not available in the data we had. A family considering Metropolitan Arts Academy should reach out to Westminster Public Schools to learn about the district’s strategic direction and any upcoming changes.
This school fits a family looking for a small, pre-K–8 setting within the Denver metro area that serves a predominantly Hispanic and economically disadvantaged student population. The arts-themed name may appeal to families interested in that emphasis, though confirmed program details would need to come from the school. The academic results suggest room for growth in core subjects, and a proactive conversation with the school about how it supports struggling students would be worthwhile.
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