The top reported proficiency rate is 22% in English language arts. The lowest is 8% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Tennyson Knolls Preparatory School
Tennyson Knolls Preparatory School, a regular public school in the Westminster Public Schools district, serves students from preschool through eighth grade in the Adams County portion of Arvada. The school is situated in a largely residential section of the city, within a suburban setting that includes commercial corridors and a well-defined historic district known as Olde Town Arvada, which offers shops, restaurants, and a commuter rail connection to Denver. Arvada grew rapidly as a Denver suburb after World War II and remains a city with a substantial park system and trail network, though recent population estimates show a slight decline from the 2020 census count.
On state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, the school’s proficiency rates were low across all tested subjects. In math, roughly one in every thirteen students scored at the proficient or advanced level. In English language arts, about one in five students met that benchmark. Science results for fifth grade were similarly low, with only a small share of students scoring proficient. The eighth grade science proficiency rate was suppressed due to small student counts, which is a common practice when the number of test-takers in a group is too low to report reliably. Compared to other schools in Adams County, Tennyson Knolls’ overall proficiency index placed it in the bottom quartile among the county’s districts. A parent considering this school will want to discuss these results directly with the school to understand what academic support and intervention programs are in place.
The student body is diverse and predominantly from families with low incomes. A substantial share of students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. The largest demographic group is Hispanic, followed by a smaller share of white students, with smaller numbers of Asian, Black, multiracial, and American Indian or Alaska Native students. Information on the share of students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the data we reviewed, and no chronic absenteeism or discipline data were present either. Because the school ends at eighth grade, there is no graduation rate to consider; families will need to plan for a separate high school transition.
In terms of peer environment, a parent can expect a school where most students come from economically similar backgrounds, with a strong Hispanic presence reflecting the surrounding neighborhood. The school's size is moderate for a PK-8 campus, with enrollment distributed fairly evenly across the elementary and middle grades.
Housing in the area is typical for the Denver metro region. Home values in the zip code have seen a modest decline recently, and rents have held stable. The broader economic context shows a national median household income and a 30-year mortgage rate that influence affordability. The area’s unemployment rate has been steady at a moderate level. For families deciding where to live, Arvada offers a range of suburban housing stock with access to parks, trails, and regional transit.
No specific program offerings, such as advanced coursework, career pathways, or enrichment, were listed in the available data. A parent may want to ask the school directly about any special programs, electives, or extracurricular activities for upper-grade students, given that the school covers middle school grades where such options often matter.
Tennyson Knolls Preparatory School is a neighborhood school serving a community with significant economic need and academic performance that falls below typical levels in the county. For a family whose priority is proximity and a diverse, economically integrated setting, this school fits that description. A family focused on demonstrated academic outcomes will likely want to examine the support structures and ask what steps the school and district are taking to lift student achievement. The lack of certain data fields also makes it hard to fully assess things like special education services or English learner support, so direct inquiry with the school is advisable.
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