Public schools in Golden, CO
16 open public schools with an address in Golden, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
16
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
7,257
15 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
17.2:1
Colorado median 15.4:1
Charter schools
3
1 virtual
An overview of Golden public schools
The federal directory lists 16 public schools in Golden, CO: 9 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high, 2 combined or other. The 15 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 7,257 students, an average of 484 per school. The largest campus is Golden High School (1,469 students), and the largest elementary school is Fairmount Elementary School (601).
Jefferson County School District No. R-1 operates the most schools here (14), plus 2 charter, service, or other agencies. 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 17.2:1, 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 3 charter schools, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 3 of 5 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 22% 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 Golden
Elementary schools in Golden
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmount Elementary School Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | KG–05 | 601 | 18.3:1 | |
| Free Horizon Montessori Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | PK–08 | 382 | 18.4:1 | |
| Jefferson Academy Coal Creek Canyon Jefferson County School District No. R-1 · Charter | PK–08 | 59 | 7.7:1 | |
| Kyffin Elementary School Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | PK–05 | 503 | 17.5:1 | |
| Maple Grove Elementary School Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | PK–05 | 390 | 16.9:1 | |
| Mitchell Elementary School Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | KG–05 | 478 | 19.8:1 | |
| Ralston Elementary School Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | KG–05 | 289 | 17.2:1 | |
| Shelton Elementary School Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | PK–05 | 394 | 14.3:1 | |
| Welchester Elementary School Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | PK–05 | 293 | 15.3:1 |
Middle schools in Golden
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell Middle School Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | 06–08 | 774 | 19.1:1 | |
| Connections Learning Center on the Earle Johnson Campus Jefferson County School District No. R-1 · Alternative School | 06–09 | 22 | 2.3:1 |
High schools in Golden
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden High School Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | 09–12 | 1,469 | 21.4:1 | |
| Jeffco Virtual Academy Jefferson County School District No. R-1 · Virtual · Alternative School | 06–12 | 441 | 16.8:1 | |
| Lookout Academy Division of Youth Services · Alternative School | 05–12 | — | — |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Golden
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compass Montessori - Golden Charter School Jefferson County School District No. R-1 · Charter | PK–12 | 425 | 15.1:1 | |
| Golden View Classical Academy State Charter School Institute · Charter | KG–12 | 737 | 17.4:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White77.6%
- Hispanic14.2%
- Black0.9%
- Asian1.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial4.9%
Enrollment-weighted across 15 Golden schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (7,257 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Golden
How many public schools are in Golden, CO?
The current NCES directory lists 16 open public schools with a location address in Golden: 9 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 7,257 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Golden?
Schools with an address in Golden belong to 3 education agencies, led by Jefferson County School District No. R-1 (14 schools), Division of Youth Services (1 school), 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 Golden?
Golden High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Golden, with 1,469 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Golden?
Yes. 3 of the 16 public schools in Golden are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Compass Montessori - Golden Charter School, Golden View Classical Academy, Jefferson Academy Coal Creek Canyon. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Golden schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Golden public schools is 17.2:1, 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 Golden 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