Best Public Schools in Highlands Ranch, CO

The city of Highlands Ranch, Colorado is home to 26 schools serving grades K-12, including 17 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 4 high schools, and 2 alternative schools. These schools are part of the highly-ranked Douglas County School District No. Re 1, which is rated 5 out of 5 stars by SchoolDigger.

A few schools stand out in Highlands Ranch, including the exceptional STEM School Highlands Ranch, which has remarkably high test scores, with 79.4% of 11th graders proficient or better in science and over 80% proficient in math and reading/writing. Other top-performing elementary schools include Stone Mountain Elementary and Heritage Elementary, both of which rank among the best in Colorado and have 5 out of 5 SchoolDigger stars. In contrast, some schools like Arrowwood Elementary and Sand Creek Elementary have lower proficiency rates.

Overall, the Highlands Ranch schools demonstrate a wide range of academic performance, with the Douglas County School District consistently outperforming state averages. The presence of high-achieving charter schools like STEM School Highlands Ranch suggests that school choice can lead to strong outcomes, while the variation in student demographics and socioeconomic factors across the district highlights the need for tailored educational approaches to meet the needs of all learners.