Where are the best public schools in the Denver 'burbs? (Arvada: houses, neighborhoods)

[badger39]

We will be relocating to the Denver area from WI this summer. We have a 6 & 4 yr old. We can live anywhere in the Denver region, as well as surrounding suburbs, and Boulder. We would prefer public schools.

Where should we look? While our immediate need is elementary, we'd like to pick a place to stay a long time, so I'd also like somewhere with a great high school as well.

Our housing budget is betwen $400K - $575K. I've heard some possibilities may be Broomfield, Louisville, Boulder to the north, or Golden, Arvada to the west.

Opinions much appreciated.

[EscapeCalifornia]

http://schoolperformancemaps.com/co/

Pretty much all of the suburbs have good schools.

[Mike from back east]

Badger, don't overlook the Index of Key Threads for a great deal of local knowledge already posted on this topic by our members. Also the search tool is a superb aid when used with whatever keywords you have in mind.

Lots of fine schools here, you've a lot to choose from. Realtors can help a lot too (I'm not one, at all, but I like their services).

[steveindenver]

Realtors can help a lot too

Oddly, at least legally they can't.

This topic has been discussed in too many threads to count.

There are good schools everywhere, bad schools everywhere and in between schools everywhere. School performance numbers are only one part of a complex equation.

[Katarina Witt]

The Denver metro area is not a place where the supposedly "good" schools are all concentrated in one area. You might think that to say, there are no bad school districts is trite, but it is really true. At your price level, the schools will be good. There are so many elementary schools, that to pick out even 20 "best" ones would be impossible. Not to mention, most of that is in the eye of the beholder. If you are really, really concerned about this, and several of us have said you shouldn't be, work backwards from the high schools.

[Jerry Bckr]

What constitutes a good school can be very subjective. As many of the previous people stated, there are good schools all over. I've seen people rave about a particular school only to have others trash it. What's your criteria for a good school? For some it's test scores, others it's additional programs, for others it's how many kids from the feeder schools go on to college after high school. Usually, the more affluent areas have a higher percentage because their kids can afford to send them. That doesn't neccesarily mean they'll do good in college.

As you look at neighborhoods, go back to ones you are considering and talk to neighbors about schools. People love to tell you what they think. As far as neighborhoods, this former Cheese Head likes the southwest metro area, especially Ken Caryl Ranch. You can view photos in one of my albums. Good luck.

[formercalifornian]

Here's a view from the southern 'burbs: we are very happy here in Cherry Creek. Lots of people like Douglas County, too. (Our experience was only so-so, but I think it had to do with our particular elementary.) Jefferson County Schools over in the Ken-Caryl region are also well-regarded.

[Katarina Witt]

We were basically well pleased with the Boulder Valley schools (southern Boudler Co, part of Broomfield and Gilpin counties).

[Bradburn1]

Luckily, you can find good schools all over Denver as others have stated. Can you post some other things that you are looking for in a house/neighborhood to help narrow it down? For example--size of house/yard, walkability factor, kinds of houses you like/neighborhoods you like, any other things you are looking for.

[maciesmom]

Best is a subjective term. Depends on what you are looking for. It also depends on whether your kids would be happy and well adjusted there. A school can have an excellent academic reputation but if your child is not happy or doesn't feel accepted it will be hard for him/her to excel. A child can get a good education at most schools - he/she can also get a bad education at all of those same schools.....