How the ratings work: School ratings (1–10) are based on district-level performance data from Niche 2026 and state report card sources, calibrated by neighborhood school zone. Denver Public Schools covers the city proper with major zone variation. Cherry Creek SD and Douglas County SD (Highlands Ranch) rank among Colorado's top districts. Ratings updated June 2026. School ratings are sourced from GreatSchools.org.
What's in this guide
Elite Tier: 9–10 School RatingStrong Tier: 8 School RatingBest Value: Strong Schools Under $500,000Full Rankings Table (83+ Neighborhoods)Frequently Asked QuestionsElite Tier — School Rating 9–10
Denver has 18 neighborhoods that reach a school rating of 9 or 10 out of 10. These are the zones where public school performance is genuinely exceptional.
Cory-Merrill
Schools 10/10
Median $813,000
Dam East/West
Schools 9/10
Median $273,000
Green Valley Ranch
Schools 9/10
Median $319,000
Goldsmith
Schools 9/10
Median $363,000
Hampden South
Schools 9/10
Median $376,000
University Hills
Schools 9/10
Median $458,000
Want to see which Denver neighborhoods match YOUR priorities?Take the 7-question quiz — we score all 83+ neighborhoods against your answers.
Start planning →Strong Tier — School Rating 8
A school rating of 8/10 is well above the national average. Denver has 24 neighborhoods in this tier. These neighborhoods have highly rated public schools without the top-tier price.
Best Value — Strong Schools Under $500,000
Dam East/West
Schools 9/10
Median $273,000
Green Valley Ranch
Schools 9/10
Median $319,000
Goldsmith
Schools 9/10
Median $363,000
Hampden South
Schools 9/10
Median $376,000
University Hills
Schools 9/10
Median $458,000
Holly Hills
Schools 9/10
Median $462,000
Alamo Placita
Schools 9/10
Median $449,000
Indian Creek
Schools 8/10
Median $372,000
Full Denver Neighborhood Rankings
Data methodology: School ratings based on Niche 2026 district rankings and state report card data, calibrated to neighborhood school zones. Districts covered: Denver Public Schools (DPS), Cherry Creek SD, Jefferson County SD, Douglas County SD.
| Neighborhood | Schools | Median Price |
|---|---|---|
| Cory-Merrill | 10/10 | $813,000 |
| Dam East/West | 9/10 | $273,000 |
| Green Valley Ranch | 9/10 | $319,000 |
| Goldsmith | 9/10 | $363,000 |
| Hampden South | 9/10 | $376,000 |
| University Hills | 9/10 | $458,000 |
| Holly Hills | 9/10 | $462,000 |
| Southmoor Park | 9/10 | $559,000 |
| Central Park | 9/10 | $576,000 |
| Wellshire | 9/10 | $839,000 |
| University Park | 9/10 | $936,000 |
| Hilltop | 9/10 | $1.1M |
| Belcaro | 9/10 | $1.2M |
| Country Club | 9/10 | $1.2M |
| Alamo Placita | 9/10 | $449,000 |
| Congress Park | 9/10 | $579,000 |
| Cherry Creek | 9/10 | $897,000 |
| Washington Park | 9/10 | $1.0M |
| Indian Creek | 8/10 | $372,000 |
| Marston | 8/10 | $415,000 |
| Lowry | 8/10 | $595,000 |
| Windsor | 8/10 | $221,000 |
| Hampden | 8/10 | $328,000 |
| Washington Virginia Vale | 8/10 | $394,000 |
| Virginia Village | 8/10 | $423,000 |
| Hale | 8/10 | $483,000 |
| Rosedale | 8/10 | $504,000 |
| Montclair | 8/10 | $543,000 |
| Platt Park | 8/10 | $640,000 |
| Washington Park West | 8/10 | $657,000 |
| South Park Hill | 8/10 | $709,000 |
| Speer | 8/10 | $402,000 |
| Baker | 8/10 | $410,000 |
| City Park West | 8/10 | $443,000 |
| Cheesman Park | 8/10 | $461,000 |
| North Park Hill | 8/10 | $491,000 |
| University | 8/10 | $527,000 |
| City Park | 8/10 | $540,000 |
| Berkeley | 8/10 | $552,000 |
| Highland | 8/10 | $553,000 |
| West Highland | 8/10 | $583,000 |
| Sloan Lake | 8/10 | $614,000 |
| Bear Valley | 7/10 | $359,000 |
| Fort Logan | 7/10 | $373,000 |
| Sherrelwood | 7/10 | $275,000 |
| Montbello | 7/10 | $286,000 |
| Gateway | 7/10 | $294,000 |
| Harvey Park | 7/10 | $337,000 |
| Clayton | 7/10 | $350,000 |
| Berkley | 7/10 | $354,000 |
| Southwest Denver | 7/10 | $360,000 |
| Overland | 7/10 | $371,000 |
| Cole | 7/10 | $385,000 |
| Golden Triangle | 7/10 | $408,000 |
| Skyland | 7/10 | $419,000 |
| Regis | 7/10 | $421,000 |
| Jefferson Park | 7/10 | $445,000 |
| Curtis Park | 7/10 | $463,000 |
| Whittier | 7/10 | $467,000 |
| Sunnyside | 7/10 | $473,000 |
| Lower Downtown (LoDo) | 7/10 | $486,000 |
| Auraria | 7/10 | $512,000 |
| Uptown | 7/10 | $334,000 |
| Northeast Park Hill | 7/10 | $335,000 |
| Five Points | 7/10 | $413,000 |
| West Colfax | 7/10 | $450,000 |
| Central Business District | 6/10 | $256,000 |
| Capitol Hill | 6/10 | $271,000 |
| Welby | 6/10 | $272,000 |
| College View-South Platte | 6/10 | $274,000 |
| Barnum | 6/10 | $287,000 |
| Mar Lee | 6/10 | $291,000 |
| Ruby Hill | 6/10 | $293,000 |
| Villa Park | 6/10 | $300,000 |
| Athmar Park | 6/10 | $307,000 |
| Lincoln Park | 6/10 | $310,000 |
| Chaffee Park | 6/10 | $316,000 |
| River North (RiNo) | 6/10 | $341,000 |
| Elyria-Swansea | 6/10 | $252,000 |
| Westwood | 6/10 | $255,000 |
| Globeville | 6/10 | $257,000 |
| Valverde | 6/10 | $277,000 |
| East Colfax | 6/10 | $299,000 |
Check crime data
We don’t grade neighborhoods on crime. Look up the streets you’re considering in Denver with the agency that patrols them:
- Denver (DPD) (open data portal: search "crime")
- FBI Crime Data Explorer (agency-level reports)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Denver neighborhood has the best schools?
Which Denver neighborhood has the best schools under $500,000?
Is a 7/10 school rating good in Denver?
Yes — a 7/10 school rating in Denver is above average for the metro and well above the national average. The difference between a 7 and a 9 is real, but a 7 is not a bad school by any reasonable measure. Many buyers find 7-rated neighborhoods represent the best value in the market.
Find Your Denver Neighborhood Match
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Chris Harris, REALTOR®
Licensed real estate agent affiliated with Real Broker, LLC (License #299754). Chris helps buyers moving to Hardin County and Fort Knox, and connects movers anywhere else with a vetted local agent. School ratings on this site are sourced from GreatSchools.org.