The top reported proficiency rate is 20% in English language arts. The lowest is 9% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Orchard Park Academy
Orchard Park Academy is a regular public school serving preschool through eighth grade, part of the Westminster Public Schools district. It is located in Denver but sits within Adams County, placing it in a large metropolitan setting. The school is not a charter school, and it operated without a magnet or Title I designation in the available data, though the community context suggests a high-need student body.
The school enrolls a substantial number of students for its grade band, spanning prekindergarten to middle school. The student body is heavily Hispanic, with other racial and ethnic groups present in smaller shares. Nearly all students come from low-income households, based on the share qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Information on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the data provided, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about special education and language support services.
On state assessments for grades three through eight, Orchard Park Academy posted proficiency rates that are low relative to state averages. The share of students meeting or exceeding standards in math and English language arts was modest, and science results at both fifth and eighth grade were similarly low. The school’s overall proficiency index, which combines results across tested subjects and grades, placed it in the bottom quartile among schools in Adams County when compared with other district schools in the area. The county median was notably higher. This pattern suggests that academic achievement is a significant area of focus for the school and district. Because the school ends at eighth grade, no graduation rate applies, and no chronic absenteeism data was available for this review.
The school’s location in the Denver metropolitan area means families have access to the amenities of a major city: a dense downtown, cultural institutions, parks, and a diverse economy anchored by aerospace, telecommunications, health care, and government. Housing values in the school’s zip code are moderately priced relative to the Denver region, and rents are typical for the area. The local housing market has seen a modest decline in home values over the past year, while rents have edged up slightly.
Westminster Public Schools is the parent district. We looked for recent district developments such as bond referendums, curriculum changes, or adjustments to its competency‑based education model, but public information on these topics was not readily accessible at the time of writing. A family interested in district‑level priorities or recent initiatives would need to consult the district directly.
Orchard Park Academy is a neighborhood school that serves a predominantly low‑income, Hispanic student population. Its academic performance on state tests is well below county benchmarks, which is a soft spot that families should investigate further with the school, particularly regarding how the school addresses gaps in math, reading, and science. The school does not offer high school grades, so students will transition elsewhere after eighth grade. For a family seeking a regular public school in a large urban area with a high‑poverty student body and a need for strong academic intervention, Orchard Park Academy presents a context where extra support and close engagement with school leadership would be important.
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