Public schools in Highlands Ranch, CO
26 open public schools with an address in Highlands Ranch, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
26
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
19,878
26 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
15.9:1
Colorado median 15.4:1
Charter schools
4
0 virtual
An overview of Highlands Ranch public schools
The federal directory lists 26 public schools in Highlands Ranch, CO: 17 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high, 2 combined or other. The 26 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 19,878 students, an average of 765 per school. The largest campus is Rock Canyon High School (2,325 students), and the largest elementary school is Ben Franklin Academy (956).
Every listed school belongs to Douglas County School District No. Re 1. 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 15.9:1, similar to 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. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 6 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 6 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 6 of 6 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 14% 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 Highlands Ranch
Elementary schools in Highlands Ranch
17| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrowwood Elementary School Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | PK–06 | 390 | 15.9:1 | |
| Bear Canyon Elementary School Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | PK–06 | 368 | 16.1:1 | |
| Ben Franklin Academy Douglas County School District No. Re 1 · Charter | PK–08 | 956 | 20:1 | |
| Copper Mesa Elementary School Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | PK–06 | 306 | 14.6:1 | |
| Cougar Run Elementary School Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | KG–06 | 392 | 15.7:1 | |
| Coyote Creek Elementary School Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | PK–06 | 506 | 16.1:1 | |
| Eldorado Elementary School Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | PK–06 | 377 | 13.5:1 | |
| Fox Creek Elementary School Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | PK–06 | 436 | 15:1 | |
| Heritage Elementary School Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | PK–06 | 377 | 14.5:1 | |
| Northridge Elementary School Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | PK–06 | 560 | 15.3:1 | |
| Platte River Charter Academy Douglas County School District No. Re 1 · Charter | PK–08 | 475 | 14.2:1 | |
| Redstone Elementary School Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | PK–06 | 398 | 14.5:1 | |
| Saddle Ranch Elementary School Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | PK–06 | 355 | 15.2:1 | |
| Sand Creek Elementary School Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | PK–06 | 322 | 13.5:1 | |
| Stone Mountain Elementary Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | PK–06 | 452 | 16.4:1 | |
| Summit View Elementary School Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | PK–06 | 350 | 14.6:1 | |
| Trailblazer Elementary School Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | PK–06 | 330 | 14.7:1 |
Middle schools in Highlands Ranch
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cresthill Middle School Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | 07–08 | 558 | 15.9:1 | |
| Mountain Ridge Middle School Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | 07–08 | 752 | 16.4:1 | |
| Ranch View Middle School Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | 07–08 | 829 | 17.6:1 |
High schools in Highlands Ranch
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlands Ranch High School Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | 09–12 | 1,323 | 19.2:1 | |
| Mountain Vista High School Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | 09–12 | 2,169 | 23.5:1 | |
| Rock Canyon High School Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | 09–12 | 2,325 | 22.3:1 | |
| Thunderridge High School Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | 09–12 | 1,820 | 22.2:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Highlands Ranch
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skyview Academy Douglas County School District No. Re 1 · Charter | PK–12 | 1,358 | 16.2:1 | |
| STEM School Highlands Ranch Douglas County School District No. Re 1 · Charter | KG–12 | 1,394 | 17.6:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White67.7%
- Hispanic14.1%
- Black1.4%
- Asian9.2%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial7.1%
Enrollment-weighted across 26 Highlands Ranch schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (19,878 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Highlands Ranch
How many public schools are in Highlands Ranch, CO?
The current NCES directory lists 26 open public schools with a location address in Highlands Ranch: 17 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 19,878 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Highlands Ranch?
All listed public schools with an address in Highlands Ranch belong to Douglas County School District No. Re 1. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Highlands Ranch?
Rock Canyon High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Highlands Ranch, with 2,325 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Highlands Ranch?
Yes. 4 of the 26 public schools in Highlands Ranch are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Ben Franklin Academy, Platte River Charter Academy, Skyview Academy. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Highlands Ranch schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Highlands Ranch public schools is 15.9:1, similar to 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 Highlands Ranch 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