2023 Best Public High Schools in Jefferson County

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  259 reviews

Senior: All the teacher truly care to see success in all students. They are there to help and guild you. Everyone is there to look out for you. I find the counselors amazing as you can always go and talk to them about anything and they are there to help you no matter what. There is also a program known as SafeToTell that many students use and are able to report things they have seen, herd, or gone through and the staff then handles the situation keeping the informers identity hidden. Sports are an amazing way to get to know fellow classmates as well as release stress. Our school is pretty good with supporting our sport teams, it is a way to bond and cheer on fellow students while also representing our school. I hope to see a change in the meals. Due to understaffing meals where not as impressive as before, but hopefully that problem will be resolved next year. I am an art student and hope to see a possible raise for the art teachers spending money.... Read 259 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,132

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  555 reviews

Senior: I have switched schools every year since fifth grade, but out of all the ones I've been to, Lakewood High School may just be my favorite. The classes are challenging, rigorous, and interesting. The teachers are empathetic, kind, and friendly. The staff cares about you, your problems, and your success. The students there are caring and accepting. At this school, I've been able to make friends and learn happily!... Read 555 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,090

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  287 reviews

Sophomore: Evergreen was a very nice school. It was a good size, about 1000 students, so all the students were familiar with each other. The teachers were all very involved with their students' success, in and out of school. It has very many good programs, and their theater is exceptional. Definitely am glad that I was able to attend such a great school!... Read 287 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,024

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  491 reviews

Senior: There are opportunities for everyone at RV. The culture is accepting and encouraging of all students. There is a large support for students from the admins and counslers. Sports at RV are amazing! The football team is a contender in the playoffs every year, solid basketball team and soccer, great track/cross country team, you name it. Performing arts is a tight knit group always allowing students to come in and out as their schedule permits. However, the school isn’t perfect, the food is subpar; all upperclassman drive off campus to get food during lunch and if underclassman are lucky they do as well. Depending on the teacher you get, you may have a very difficult time working with them or even reaching them. The school is crowded but that is to be expected with such a large population and the teachers do a good job of making time for every student. I would definitely recommend Ralston Valley if you have the opportunity to go.... Read 491 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,891

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  386 reviews

Senior: My experience at Columbine High School has been one of inspiration and hard work. The community around pushes you to your absolute best, you represent Columbine with everything you do! The teachers and students build close connections to motivate you to accomplish your goals, and the students are very friendly. They're no cliques at Columbine, everybody is friends and can rely on one another to help. The Columbine community is one big close-knit family, through thick and thin we have each others backs, academically and emotionally. The will to learn at Columbine is quite inspiring for any new student or parent to observe. The tradition of excellence and community has been carried on and reflected by the people who leave there. Columbine is my home and I wouldn't trade my high school experience there for anywhere in the world.... Read 386 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,732

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  257 reviews

Alum: Being a child of divorce, I went to a handful of schools for high school around the state. Conifer was by far my favorite for a multitude of reasons. First, the way the classes are “block structured” was very useful to my academic growth. I only had a few classes a day, which allowed me to focus on the subject, and get my work done thoroughly. The teachers are all amazing and we’re happy to work with their students, and make arrangements that best suited individual needs. The support offered is always available, and I felt like the staff genuinely wanted me to succeed. The school provided all tools needed, limiting out of pocket expenses, and provided opportunities of grow for everyone.... Read 257 reviews

• grade A

• Students 837

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  387 reviews

Alum: It's a decent school. The faculty is somewhat hit or miss, but they're all qualified. It's a destination school for teachers so most of the teachers want to be there. Most of the teachers are legitimately passionate about what they teach and want to help their students succeed. Generally, the athletics department gets more credit than it deserves, but the administration is starting to turn around to more academic pursuits like Robotics, NSDA, DECA, and Music activities. There are quite a few AP and CE credit courses that students can take, to the point where you'll be unlikely to have time for all of them. Unfortunately, the school does not have any IB classes, but it's fine. There has also been more and more variety in terms of the classes that students can take. The school emphasizes the importance of the core classes: English, math, and the sciences. They also have plenty of electives. Anything from cooking to engineering is available for students to take.... Read 387 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,834

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  275 reviews

Alum: I moved to a Golden from a different country and everyone there was so nice and welcoming! I struggled to find a home at Golden but in the end of high school, I finally found home through the friends I made at Golden! I also love how everyone can truly be themselves and be confident about it at Golden because it’s such a non-judgy community.... Read 275 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,381

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  299 reviews

Sophomore: Dakota is an amazing place to live, love, learn and leave a legacy, that is our school’s motto after all, and because of this mindset, students are able to achieve anything they want here. The classes that are offered check all the boxes do being prepared for your future. And because of how accommodating Dakota is you never need to worry about what level of learning you are at, there is a fit just right for you. Dakota may not have the elective you were looking for so there’s Warren Tech, where they offer career focused elective classes. I love the dedication of the upperclassman and faculty in teaching the younger and newer students how to be apart of the school. Whether that be learning cheers for games, or helping set up social events like Homecoming, or even joining one of our many important clubs, that help people find their people. I think that Dakota has been a true home to me, I would never want to leave because of all the amazing people who have made my life better!... Read 299 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,421

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  228 reviews

Senior: Green Mountain High School champions learning, exploration, and building positive relationships within the community, especially through their Academy Program and the group of passionate teachers and staff that make the school such a vibrant place. Even though most teachers will see hundreds of students come and go every semester, they always strive to make their classrooms places of laughter and learning where they build impactful relationships, if not to make challenging coursework a little more bearable. Every student, no matter where they come from or how they identify, can find their place in the tight-knit Ram Family!... Read 228 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,142

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  328 reviews

Alum: I graduated in 2012. At the time, Bear Creek offered lots of AP and extracurricular opportunities, and the student culture was friendly. There weren't any "cliques" or anything like that-- people just got along. I even had Senior friends when I was a Freshman! I remember sitting with lots of different friend groups for lunch and really connecting with everyone. I had a positive experience with most of the teachers as well, especially in Honors and AP courses. You could tell they really cared about student success and learning-- beyond teaching to a test. High school is a turbulent and stressful time for anyone, but I truly believe Bear Creek set me up for success.... Read 328 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,533

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.53 out of 5  260 reviews

Senior: I appreciate all the teachers at the school, and the connections I have with them. The library is a great place to get all my homework done, and it keeps me focused. I think the teachers makes a difference in my experience because they've helped me grow throughout the years, and having talks about academics makes me motivated. However, I think the school could do more to solve issue of the bathroom hogging, and people hovering over the sink and won't let people wash their hands and get to class. Also I think teachers can do more about people going to the bathroom at a specific time, because some students take the pass and leave for a while and make the others wait until they come back. Same with blocking the halls during passing periods. Overall, I really love the school because of the teachers, and the building, but the school can do better to handle people who bother others.... Read 260 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,295

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  66 reviews

Sophomore: Collegiate Academy is a very small school focused on academics. It is a tight community, so you will make very close relationships with your classmates and teachers. The school puts its students first and puts effort in order to help you keep up with your work. Costs are much more manageable compared to other schools. Since it is a small school, more special events happen such as near monthly field trips. The staff is very good at being accepting of their students and adjusting to student's different strengths and weaknesses.... Read 66 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 433

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  270 reviews

Alum: I personally enjoyed my time at WR. The teachers I had were nice and the friends I made were cool. I have heard some people complain about their teachers but I was fortunate enough to never have any problems with mine. I love that they give you a free period twice a week in case you need to get word done. They also take potential threats to the school very seriously and they support all kinds of people. There's an elective for almost everything. A problem I did have my senior year was the boys who would always mess up the bathrooms, it got annoying fast and was never really addressed. The emails announcing a day off because of the weather or something were only sent to parents, so if my dad missed an email I would go to school not knowing it was closed. I felt uninformed most days, like on the days seniors had off, nobody would tell me and I'd go to school anyways only to be told I had to go home. Overall, an alright experience.... Read 270 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,152

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  333 reviews

Senior: Amazing public school that is full of great teachers, staff, and students. Transitioning from middle school to AWest was an eye opener because there’s so many people. There are plenty of opportunities at either classes or school events to create relationships and make great friends. But by far the best part is the rivalry with our opposing school: Ralston Valley High School. We’ve been rivals of the Arvada region for years. Whenever there’s a game you have to go! The intensity of the rivalry is unlike anything else.... Read 333 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,825

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Colorado Charter School Institute, CO•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.11 out of 5  36 reviews

Junior: My experience at GVCA was fantastic! All of my teachers are amazing and are always helpful, they want what's best for you and are supportive. The students are nice, it's easy to make friends and connect with people.... Read 36 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 708

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  310 reviews

Niche User: I had a pretty well rounded experience, the main curriculum courses were alright, though I felt much of the artistic courses were lacking during my time there. Despite that, however, aside from a small handful of experiences, I never felt as though I lacked resources to get help for anything-- related to both academics and life outside the school--and I always felt as though I had a helping hand in achieving the best me I could possibly be through staff and peers. Nothing feels too farfetched or too insignificant when you're at Pomona, and I highly recommend joining the Panther family!... Read 310 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,250

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  50 reviews

Works Here: I have experience with Two Roads both as a homeschool parent and as an employee. I partnered with Two Roads while homeschooling my three children (now all grown and college graduates). Two Roads provided a caring environment, educational rigor in subjects I was not equipped to teach, and a myriad of opportunities and resources (from drama club to early college). For a small school, they accomplish mighty things! Following the graduation of my third child, I joined the staff. Two Roads has a culture like none other. All teachers and staff are invested in the success of every student. It is a beautiful thing! We believe that there is not just a single path to success, and we are therefore masters at individualization. Everyone can find a place to belong at Two Roads.... Read 50 reviews

• grade B

• Students 576

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.23 out of 5  26 reviews

Senior: JCOS has been an amazing experience for me overall. The structure of the school is very different from a traditional one, they focus mainly on life preparation and finding who you are. There are many things they do for this, trips around the world to have hands on learning, six passages for adulthood, including Career, Creativity, Global Awareness, Logical Inquiry, Practical Skills, Adventure. Each is completed within the Walkabout program(10-12) and have requirements for everything need to succeed in life for each student personally. more projects are required to complete the Foundations program(7-9). Everyone is close and supportive in the community. The biggest issue that I would change is funding, they are not very recognized so they get very little. Because of this they have only one sport, Ultimate Frisbee, and technology and non-human resources are very little.... Read 26 reviews

• grade B

• Students 316

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  31 reviews

Middle School Student: Compass Montessori is an amazing school and IT'S FREE! I learn a lot there and do real-life work like caring for animals and plants. We learn in a constructive way and the classroom is a much more comfortable place to be. Students can interact during the day within other classrooms and enjoy the interesting lessons. Compass uses hands-on experience and teaches many skills that will be useful in real life. They have a lot of outdoor equipment including a gaga-pit, a giant (and I mean GIANT) chessboard, tetherball, a soccer field, a basketball field, and a FARM! I have learned lots of things about the animals that they have on the farm. The Compass farm houses chickens, alpacas, goats, and bees. Students sheer the alpacas and use their fur to make things that they sell. We also sell eggs and honey.... Read 31 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 419

• Student-teacher ratio 28:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.47 out of 5  152 reviews

Alum: I loved going to this school! I always felt like there was a place for everyone. I also really enjoyed because it was considered a low income school they had resources for every student weather that be a snack, clothes, school supplies all the way down to prom dresses/suits for people who can’t afford them.... Read 152 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 783

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• 11-12

• •
  Rating 4.55 out of 5  11 reviews

Senior: This school is amazing and helped me get a head start on my future career! I am in the dental assisting program and it’s the best decision I have ever made.... Read 11 reviews

• grade C+

• Students 36

• Student-teacher ratio 1:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  13 reviews

Senior: Addenbrooke Classical Academy is very much different from a large public school in the best of ways. The environment and teacher-student relationships are very personalized and allow for optimal growth in education. The growing school is making strides to be a contender in CHSAA sports and recently built a gym and soccer field, which is a great start in allowing for a large athletic program. Personally, in my 7 years here in Addenbrooke I was provided with an extensive curriculum, help with college, and a great experience with friends, sports, and some classes which I will remember forever. In the first chaotic years of the school, the growth and developments of the facility, curriculum, and structure of the school have been tremendous. I understand from my younger siblings who attended the elementary and middle school section of the academy that Addenbrooke has put an incredible amount of attention on the younger students which is vital in today's society and often goes unnoticed.... Read 13 reviews

• grade C+

• Students 437

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  45 reviews

Senior: The environment is decent for a high school, with a variety of clubs and students to match. With the wide arrangement of classes offered, there is sure to be at least one class for everyone. My experience with the teachers was overall good, though a few are a bit creepy or out of touch/senile. I grew as a person here, and really felt like I was doing something useful. While Jefferson suffers from the usual school problems, like overcrowding, jerks, and heating/cooling issues, my high school experience wasn't that bad.... Read 45 reviews

• grade C+

• Students 659

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Jefferson County School District No. R-1, CO•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.8 out of 5  5 reviews

Senior: I loved Mclain High school. The staff and people there are very caring and want to push you to complete and finish your education. They offer a lot of cool classes like hiking and in dept cooking and meditation classes. I enjoyed Mclain a lot and recommend it to anyone having a hard time at a traditional high school.... Read 5 reviews

• grade C

• Students 350

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1