schoolsbycounty

Jefferson County Schools & Education

Jefferson County, Colorado

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

22/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

85.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

85.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 83.1%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,213

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,447

School Score

22/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 36/100

State Score Position

#47

of 63 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Jefferson County

Measured School Summary

Jefferson County faces educational challenges with a school score of 22/100 and a graduation rate of 85.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $6,213 per pupil, Jefferson County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 40% below the Colorado average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 17% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Jefferson County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

173 public schools and 1 district are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

22/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #47 of 63 Colorado counties with school score data.

Completion

85.0%

1.9 pts above the state average

Funding context

$6,213

$1,234 below the state average

School coverage

173

1 district represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Jefferson County has 173 public schools across 1 district, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public SchoolsCompare Counties
Parent decision brief

What Jefferson County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Dominant-district county

Jefferson County School District No. R-1 carries most of the listed public-school system, with 162 of 173 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#47

of 63 Colorado counties with school score data. The county score is 14 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 98% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

Elementary to high school visible

74,586 students

Elementary 103Middle 20High 28Other 9

160 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Jefferson County School District No. R-1 is the largest listed district slice, with 162 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Jefferson County?

Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?

Comparison context

Compare Jefferson County With Nearby School Markets

Jefferson County appears in curated regional school comparisons where parents commonly weigh county lines, housing tradeoffs, commute, and district boundaries before narrowing to individual schools.

Denver Front Range

Denver County vs Arapahoe County vs Jefferson County Schools

This guide is useful when a family is choosing between Denver proper and nearby suburban counties along the Front Range.

Compared with

Denver County, CO and Arapahoe County, CO

Current leader

Arapahoe County, CO at 41/100

Graduation-rate leader: Jefferson County, CO at 85.0%

Open regional guideOpen interactive comparison

Education Overview

About Schools in Jefferson County, Colorado

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

A Massive Urban Education Hub

Jefferson County manages a vast educational empire of 173 public schools serving 80,552 students. The infrastructure is robust, including 105 elementary schools, 24 middle schools, 34 high schools, and several specialized facilities.

One District, Endless Choices

Jefferson County School District No. R-1 is the sole district, yet it offers immense variety including 27 charter schools. These charters account for over 15% of the total schools, catering to diverse educational preferences.

Suburban Living and Large Campuses

Schools here are primarily suburban and large, with an average enrollment of 474 students. Astravo Online Academy leads with 2,134 students, while traditional campuses like Lakewood High School serve over 1,800 students each.

School Overview

Total Schools

173

in Jefferson County

Reported Enrollment

80,552

170 schools reporting

School Districts

1

district

Charter Schools

27

16% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary105
Middle24
High34
Other10

1 School District in Jefferson County

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

Guide
162 schools
75,327 students enrolled
Open district guide

173 Public Schools in Jefferson County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 18 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 173 matching schools

Astravo Online Academy High School

Byers School District No. 32J

LAKEWOOD, 80228 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12CharterVirtual2,134 students

Lakewood High School

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

LAKEWOOD, 80215 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,885 students

Ralston Valley Senior High School

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

ARVADA, 80005 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,843 students

Arvada West High School

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

ARVADA, 80004 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,840 students

Chatfield High School

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

LITTLETON, 80127 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,784 students

Columbine High School

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

LITTLETON, 80123 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,686 students

Bear Creek High School

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

LAKEWOOD, 80227 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,431 students

Golden High School

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

GOLDEN, 80401 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,416 students

Dakota Ridge Senior High School

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

LITTLETON, 80127 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,338 students

Standley Lake High School

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

WESTMINSTER, 80021 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,180 students

Pomona High School

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

ARVADA, 80005 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,132 students

D'Evelyn Junior/Senior High School

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

DENVER, 80235 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–12High1,125 students

Green Mountain High School

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

LAKEWOOD, 80228 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,085 students

Alameda International Junior/Senior High School

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

LAKEWOOD, 80232 / City: Midsize

Profile7–12High1,062 students

Three Creeks K-8

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

ARVADA, 80007 / Rural: Fringe

ProfileKG–8Primary1,026 students

Wheat Ridge High School

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

WHEAT RIDGE, 80033 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High970 students

Drake Junior High School

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

ARVADA, 80002 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle957 students

Evergreen High School

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

EVERGREEN, 80439 / Town: Fringe

Profile9–12High954 students

Bear Creek K-8 School

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

LAKEWOOD, 80227 / City: Midsize

RecordKG–8Primary931 students

Summit Ridge Middle School

Jefferson County School District No. R-1

LITTLETON, 80127 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle909 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,213

State avg $7,447

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Jefferson County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Colorado counties have the highest graduation rates?
Pitkin County (97.0%), Rio Blanco County (93.2%), and Routt County (93.2%) currently lead Colorado among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Colorado?
Across Colorado counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,447. The highest current county values are Mineral County ($13,728), San Juan County ($13,639), and Hinsdale County ($13,446). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Jefferson County?
Jefferson County has a school score of 22/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Jefferson County?
The high school graduation rate in Jefferson County is 85.0%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Jefferson County spend per student?
Jefferson County spends $6,213 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Jefferson County, Colorado — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Jefferson County, Colorado?

Jefferson County manages a vast educational empire of 173 public schools serving 80,552 students. The infrastructure is robust, including 105 elementary schools, 24 middle schools, 34 high schools, and several specialized facilities.

What are the major school districts in Jefferson County, Colorado?

Jefferson County School District No. R-1 is the sole district, yet it offers immense variety including 27 charter schools. These charters account for over 15% of the total schools, catering to diverse educational preferences.

What is the school experience like in Jefferson County?

Schools here are primarily suburban and large, with an average enrollment of 474 students. Astravo Online Academy leads with 2,134 students, while traditional campuses like Lakewood High School serve over 1,800 students each.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Las Animas County

Colorado

-1 pts

21/100

School score

Logan County

Colorado

+1 pts

23/100

School score

Pueblo County

Colorado

-1 pts

21/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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