Advice on the Best Schools in the Denver Metro Area?

I am a native of Colorado. If you are looking to stay north of Denver there are some nice communites in those areas you mentioned. I live south, in Parker, which is a great area with good schools. Castle Rock is a nice area with good schools too (Parker and Castle Rock are Douglas County School Dist.) Littleton Cherry Creek schools are excellent. These areas all have beautiful neighborhoods as well. Though these areas might be a bit too high for the rent range you mentioned. There are apartment finding companies that take their fees from the apartments companies they place you in that could help you. Also realtor websites offer advice like www.coloradoschoolguides.com/fuller/

The best schools in the area are in the Cherry Creek School District.
I would suggest anything south of Illiff and east of Parker Road.
Good luck and welcome to Colorado!!

The best public schools are in the Cherry Creek and Douglas County School District. Like most districts though, there are good and bad schools. Great elementary schools in Cherry creek are Cottonwood, Bellevue, and Campus and West are good middle schools.

These are in the Denver Tech Center (DTC), so are a bit south of where you are thinking. I'm sure others will disagree, but Westminster schools are not known to be stellar.

Here is a great website for looking for a safe neighborhood. http://www.familywatchdog.us/ It gives you the location of people that have been convicted of a crime and the type of crime (sexual predators, etc.).

Good Luck!

I am not a big fan of up north but they do tend to be cheaper than south area metro denver. Jefferson county schools are pretty good you can check out the website for school websites etc at www.jeffco.k12.co.us/
good luck!

Hi A.,

I'm a mother and a grandmother! I believe you will enjoy Denver. I think its a wonderful city and Colorado is a great state! I have lived here since 1975 ... Came here when my children were 6 and 9. They attended schools in north Littleton (East Elementary) ... I think Littleton -- a suburb to the south of Denver is a good area.

The areas you mentioned are OK, also...they are WAAAAAY to the north ... so I guess it depends upon what kind of commute you want to do.

Denver's rent is expensive... I won't kid you. I live in the Capitol Hill area of Denver ande love it ...its home...its a very eclectic area--near downtown ... and Dora Moore is a good gradeschool.

I know there are places that you might be able to rent for 5 to 600...but you will really have to hunt for them and make sure they are in an area that you want to live in.

I am impressed that you are a Life Coach! Yay!! I am metaphysical in spirituality. I don't know if its 'legal' on this site to give you my personal Email... if you would like to hear back from me again...we could find out. I'll be glad to "be there" for you!

Love, B.

Hi, A.. A brave woman you are to make such a big move. I moved to Colorado from Michigan in 2000 and love it. I live in Westminster and it does have some very nice areas, though I don't know a great deal about the schools (my son is too young, yet). Of the cities you listed, Broomfield is better, though I think you may have difficulty finding a rental in your price range (really in any of the areas you listed).

Arvada may also be a good place for you to look. It's generally between Broomfield and Wheat Ridge and is an older part of town, but has some nice areas and the schools are said to be great.

My husband and I are moving to Arvada and are considering renting our house in Westminster, which is about a half block from an elementary school. We're thinking about 1200/mo for rent (water/trash included), which I know is higher than you planned, but if you were able to find a "roomie" that might work (5 bedrooms/2.5 baths/great yard).

I'm happy to answer any other questions you have about the area, if you're interested - good luck to you!

Hi A.,

Being a Colorado native and having gone to school here as well as both my kids, I found the BEST schools to be in the Cherry Creek School District. A close second would be Douglas County Schools. (The worst is Denver county schools, trust me on this one!) To make a point, when my son was young, he started out in a Denver Public school. When he was in 2nd grade I remarried and we moved to the Cherry Creek School District. He was so far behind the kids in the Cherry Creek schools we ended up having him repeat a grade. Where all the other kids were doing more involved math, mine had not been taught ANY of it in his prior school. His reading level was well below all the other kids as well. I was SO thankful to get him OUT of Denver! He graduated from Cherry Creek High School, went on to college and now teaches Deaf and Hard of hearing middle school aged kids in Washington, DC. When my daughter came along (19yrs seperate my kids...I know, we started over! lol) we lived in Douglas County (Highlands Ranch area), and she has attended school in this county from the start. (She is a Junior in High School now). She has the greatest teachers and excels in most all her classes as a direct result of these teachers! She also is excited to go to school on a day to day basis! (how rare is that for a teenager?) I can't comment on schools North of Denver, having always been South of Denver. Littleton (Arapahoe County) also has great schools, and would more likely have the price range of homes/apts you are looking for. If it were me, knowing what I know now, I'd definitely stick with one of the above mentioned schools. (Littleton, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock). Hope this helps some, good luck and have a safe trip to Colorado! Here is a link for the Douglas County School District so you can check it out.

http://www.dcsdk12.org/portal/page/portal/DCSD

HI A.. I'm a mom of a 9 mo, 3yr old and 5 yr old. I've taught in the past and my hubby is a teacher in the middle school. If your looking for good deals as far as housing goes, up North is the way to go I think. I'm new in Real Estate and I'm researching for a friend in Brighton, Broomfield, Longmont and Fort Lupton areas. For buying, they are significantly cheaper than where I'm at in Parker. I assume renting would be the same, and I think they are decent areas to live too. As far as schools go, I'm in an awesome district down south in Douglas County schools. My husband teaches in Doug. Co. and I used to.
Maybe you could find something in your price range if you search a bit? Douglas Co. is Parker, Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch areas. Castle Rock is beautiful!
Good Luck!
J.

Best schools in the Denver Metro Area--Douglas County. (It used to be Cherry Creek and they are still very good--a close 2nd.) Douglas County this last year had the highest CSAP scores and are a progressive system with most recent emphasis on being "green" in several brand new school buildings, one in Castle Rock. Castle Rock area probably would be the best for possible rents but all rents are higher than you'd hoped. Denver area rents are high. You will L O V E Colorado. A great place to live and grow and learn. Westminster, Wheatridge, Broomfield are all north of Denver and probably a little less expensive living. They are in Adams County--not the best schools. Douglas County is very expensive in some places but good prices can be found. Douglas County is South of Denver Metro--includes some mtn areas. Good Luck and Welcome to a beautiful state. D.

To find something within that price range I would look for tax credit rentals. I have a friend that got one that way and the rent is 60% of what it normally would be. There are some income requirements but they aren't that low. She got into a brand new unit in a very nice area that is $600 a month that way. Most newer apartment complexes have some units that are subsidized so they are a lower rent. Otherwise it would be very difficult to find an apartment within your price range

Hi A.,
My name is C. and I live in south area of the Denver metro. Unincorporated Englewood is the proper name. It is in the Cherry Creek school district and I believe that it is the best. My daughter is graduating from Cherry Creek this year and I have been pleased with the acedemics of the school. 90% of the graduates go on to college, that is a pretty high number. Hope your trip is a safe one. I came from a small town in NY many years ago and I love Denver. Lots of outdoor activities here for the weather is so wonderful. Sunshines about 300 days a year here. I have lived in California and Washington North and South Carolina and Denver Colorado is by far my favorite! Hope you enjoy it as well. Good Luck C.

I have noticed some houses and condos for sale South of C-470. Probably Cenntenial or close. The schools are good from what I understand and the prices on the homes seem cheaper than some I've noticed. I don't know how that would translate for rent. We're in one of the less expensive areas and the apartments near us rent for around $1000 including utilities. The way Denver is set up, if you qualify, Section 8 housing is available in almost any neighborhood now. The city buys out the foreclosures and leins and provides them for low income families. We're in a nice area with good schools and have a few Section 8 homes in the area. Welcome to CO. We hope you enjoy!

HI! I love the west side of town and would recommend it (Lakewood, Golden) but the rent you are looking for will be difficult to find. Broomfield might be possible, good luck!!

I am originally from New York as well and currently live in Colorado. Highlands Ranch, Littleton, CAstle Rock are great as well. I actually preferr them. Highlands Ranch schools are rated very good, as is Douglas County schools and that is the county we are in. I prefer the area south of Denver, then the area north of Denver.

Welcome to the area! Good luck on finding anything in that price range to rent. What size were you looking for? We have had 2 different rentals in Lakewood and they ranged from $700-$900 and that did not include utilities! Neither of them were very nice, but in a good neighborhood! Both of my boys go to schools in Wheatridge and I like them both.

Denver is expensive. WE moved here in 2006 and was appauled by the education kids receive in public schools. My daughter goes to Denver Lutheran H.S. but she loves it and is very happy. I have a friend whose grandkids can not read, write or do math in 4th grade.

As for rent there are parts of Aurora that are very nice and cheaper then other parts of the city. It does not have the best rep. but parts are really nice. If you go south it is also cheaper. The western suburbs will be more expensive because you are closer to the mountains. I would look in Castle Rock or Parker area where the housing is cheaper but the area is nice.

Good Luck and blessings on your move.
C. B

We live in Westminster, have been here for 5 yrs. We love
the area.....we are very happy with the Adams 12 district.
Both my girls, 14 and 11 are in new schools.
Broomfield also has a nice school district, not that you
are there yet, but their high school athletics is awesome.
Can't help you with renting, maybe a townhouse, there are
nice ones in the Westminster/Broomfield area.

A.,
I just relocated from Long Island to Littleton. I have my kids in Montessori Peaks Academy (Jefferson County) and my sister's kids attend Collegiate Academy also in JeffCo. We live in Douglas County, which is only about 15mins from either school. We are near Roxborough and we love it here. It's away from the bustle of a big town, but a short drive from anything you desire!! Good Luck!
-R.

westminster is nice to live in, but do not move into adams 50 school district. it is considered near the worst in the state. (or at least the metro area)

I would get a realtor and go from there. Our realtor was a big help in finding us what we needed. They know about the school districts and will be able to help you find the price range you are looking for. My son goes to Bill Roberts K-8, a Denver Public School. There is not one teacher that I would not want him to get for any grade. Don't count DPS out no school district is perfect.

500-600/mo. Colorado is pretty expensive, and I can't really think of a place that would be in that range including utilities. I would say that Lafayette/Louisville might be a good bet though they are in Boulder Co. not Jefferson, Adams, or Denver Co. Louisville Middle school is very good and feeds into both Monarch and Centaurus. Both are good HS for different reasons. Centaurus is Diverse,has an engineering program, IB and AP classes. Monarch has a high standard of excellence and had good arts programs.
Good luck in your search!

Hi A.,
Cherry Creek and Douglas County schools are generally considered the best. They are in the south metro area and the places you are talking about are in the north. I personally would not put my child in schools in Westminster or Wheat Ridge. As far as $500-600 rent goes, I don't think you will find that anywhere except for the worst areas. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I paid more than that for a not-so-great place 10 years ago!

Welcome to Colorado! We live in very west Westminster, close to Arvada, and we love this area. As far as renting a place for 500-600, I really hate to be pessimistic, but good luck. I don't think you can find anything that cheap, especially if you are looking for a safe neighborhood. Realistically, you probably won't be able to find anything cheaper than 800 and that would be a really good deal. GOOD LUCK!