Public schools in Brighton, CO
18 open public schools with an address in Brighton, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
18
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
11,368
18 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
16.3:1
Colorado median 15.4:1
Charter schools
4
1 virtual
An overview of Brighton public schools
The federal directory lists 18 public schools in Brighton, CO: 8 elementary, 2 middle, 5 high, 3 combined or other. The 18 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 11,368 students, an average of 632 per school. The largest campus is Horizon High School (1,966 students), and the largest elementary school is Bromley East Charter School (1,214).
School District 27J operates the most schools here (15), and 2 regular districts have at least one Brighton campus, plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 16.3:1, higher than the statewide school median of 15.4:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 4 charter schools, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 5 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 3 of 6 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 51% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Brighton
Elementary schools in Brighton
8| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bromley East Charter School School District 27J · Charter | PK–08 | 1,214 | 28.6:1 | |
| Elaine S. Padilla Elementary School School District 27J | PK–05 | 672 | 19.1:1 | |
| Foundations Academy School District 27J · Charter | KG–08 | 763 | 48:1 | |
| Glacier Peak Elementary School Adams 12 Five Star Schools | KG–05 | 412 | 16.8:1 | |
| Mary E Pennock Elementary School School District 27J | PK–05 | 592 | 15.7:1 | |
| Northeast Elementary School School District 27J | PK–05 | 470 | 15.3:1 | |
| South Elementary School School District 27J | PK–05 | 337 | 14.7:1 | |
| Southeast Elementary School School District 27J | PK–05 | 527 | 16.5:1 |
Middle schools in Brighton
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overland Trail Middle School School District 27J | 06–08 | 581 | 14.5:1 | |
| Vikan Middle School School District 27J | 06–08 | 528 | 13.1:1 |
High schools in Brighton
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27J Online Academy School District 27J · Virtual | 06–12 | 336 | 16:1 | |
| Brighton High School School District 27J | 09–12 | 1,733 | 19.3:1 | |
| Eagle Ridge Academy School District 27J · Charter | 09–12 | 593 | 25.2:1 | |
| Horizon High School Adams 12 Five Star Schools | 09–12 | 1,966 | 20.1:1 | |
| Innovations & Options School District 27J · Alternative School | 06–12 | 235 | 13.7:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Brighton
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27J Preschool School District 27J | PK–PK | 72 | 14.4:1 | |
| Ascent Classical Academy of Northern Denver State Charter School Institute · Charter | KG–09 | 305 | 18:1 | |
| Prairie Vista Youth Services Center School District 27J · Alternative School | 04–12 | 32 | 7.1:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White37.9%
- Hispanic55%
- Black1.4%
- Asian2.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial3.1%
Enrollment-weighted across 18 Brighton schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (11,368 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Brighton
How many public schools are in Brighton, CO?
The current NCES directory lists 18 open public schools with a location address in Brighton: 8 elementary, 2 middle, 5 high, 3 combined or other. Together they reported 11,368 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Brighton?
Schools with an address in Brighton belong to 3 education agencies, led by School District 27J (15 schools), Adams 12 Five Star Schools (2 schools), State Charter School Institute (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Brighton?
Horizon High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Brighton, with 1,966 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Brighton?
Yes. 4 of the 18 public schools in Brighton are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Ascent Classical Academy of Northern Denver, Bromley East Charter School, Eagle Ridge Academy. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Brighton schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Brighton public schools is 16.3:1, higher than the Colorado school median of 15.4:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Brighton guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Colorado cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Colorado cities