2025 Best Public Schools in Castle Rock

Senior: My experience at Rock Canyon High School has been multifaceted. The best part has been the engaging and supportive environment, especially in the business and finance-related courses, which have fueled my interest in pursuing a career in the field. The teachers are approachable and genuinely care about student growth. However, like any school, it has areas for improvement. The competitive culture can be overwhelming at times, and I think a greater focus on mental health resources would benefit students. Overall, the community spirit at Rock Canyon has left a positive mark on me, preparing me well for future challenges.... Read 561 reviews

Parent: My 9th grade kid loves STEM! STEM have dedicated teachers who truly know their students. The smaller school size and class sizes lends itself to a supportive and engaging learning environment. The teachers know my kid and encourage participation in opportunities and clubs that align with their interests. The present administration demonstrates strong leadership. The focused communication changes this year are noticeable. My kid is excited by the course offerings. No where else in the district can a 9th grader take a CE course, let alone three like my kid has on the schedule this year. I would tell anyone reading older reviews, take them for what they were - reviews at that time. I am so glad we found STEM. It's worth the drive!... Read 95 reviews

Parent: Great Experience. Good staffs. academic facilities ate good. Very good teacher and really helpful my daughter has learnt a lot of things. I am very happy with school teacher and staff. Thank you for helping my daughter to improve her learning and her confidence. In my opinion, school can be a great place if we know how to take advantage. We can meet people and make friends.... Read 3 reviews

Parent: Great school with wonderful staff and learning environment. Love the curriculum and challenging pace. Very glad our son is a part of this school.... Read 7 reviews

Parent: This is an exceptional school. There are too many examples of the positive impact that teachers and administrators are having on the students to list in a single review. A simple story might be the best way to convey the character of PRA. During COVID, I remember hearing from so many parents how poorly their schools were handling things. I'm sure many people reading this can remember the challenges we all faced during that time. My partner and I felt so lucky to be at a school that handled navigating COVID so well. The students were cared for. The school was made safe. The teachers and administrators maintained a positive attitude, and constantly went above and beyond the call of duty. This is a school that prides itself on being excellent, both pedagogically and socially. It is an exceptional place of learning.... Read 1 review

Parent: I've had 2 children go to this school. I really like the current principal, the current drama teacher, and the current choir director. 2022. There's a few other really great teachers here too. It's an all digital school, and I'm still torn about that and the sudden introduction of full internet access. It's grades 6-8 and I'm still on the fence about liking 6th grade in middle school. My 2nd child was happy here, so that's something for middle school.... Read 6 reviews

Sophomore: I love sva. I have gone to this school since I was in kindergarten and have always had great teachers. My teachers have always encouraged me in everything I wanted to do and stood by when I started it. The teachers and the administration are the best parts of the school. I wish there were more classes to choose from in the high school but I still wouldn't change anything!... Read 108 reviews

Alum: I absolutely loved AA! The middle school is a great place, and every teacher I had from kindergarten through eighth grade was amazing! It is truly a one-of-a-kind environment and I would recommend it! The academics here were amazing and I learned most of the things in my ninth-grade literature class in either sixth or seventh grade here. There's an amazing SRO and the administration is great! There is a strong PTO and and great music and sports programs. It is a STEM school so the robotics program is incredible!... Read 11 reviews

Parent: This is our family’s 4th year at BRE (our son is in 5th grade this year) and we absolutely love this school! The staff and students at BRE are incredibly warm and welcoming. The school provides and encourages many opportunities for children to learn and grow. Our son participates in several fabulous programs at BRE including their gifted and talented program, National Elementary Honor Society, and BRETV. For parents who want to engage and volunteer at BRE, there are many opportunities to do so. The teachers/admin/staff at BRE exude tremendous friendliness and enthusiasm. The principal, Jen Murdock-Jacoway, has created a united and strong school community that our son (and my husband and I) are thrilled to be a part of!... Read 3 reviews

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Works Here: I believe in the philosophy of Immersion Language Learning and this school performs very well! The teachers present a very experienced and culturally authentic classroom. The students are excited to come to school and are given the opportunity to participate in programs created by learning about other countries. I am impressed by the level of student growth each year. The biggest problem I see is the loss of good teachers to higher paying jobs.... Read 1 review

Senior: The academics allow for advanced classes and a quality college readiness preparation. I have learned so much and been able to maximize my education. Outside of education, the school lacks in clubs, music, and sports. The school thus somewhat lacks the communities that these activities foster. I think that expanding clubs would be a good change.... Read 83 reviews

Parent: Been with the school for over 5 years now. With two kids now at the school, it's great for both of them to share experiences. WCA is so good!... Read 21 reviews

Alum: I had a blast at Soaring Hawk Elementary School. I found my closest friends there and had some great teachers to support me.... Read 3 reviews

Parent: Castle Rock Middle School has been fantastic for my daughter this year! The teachers are all so supportive of her learning, development, and growth. They have reached out to me via email letting me know about a great test score or positive thing that has happened with my daughter! They have all been so accommodating as we venture into e-learning.... Read 1 review

Senior: My experience at Castle View High School has been incredibly rewarding and transformative. The school environment fosters a strong sense of community, and the teachers are genuinely dedicated to helping students succeed. Academically, I appreciated the variety of courses available, which allowed me to explore different interests and challenge myself. The faculty's support was instrumental, as they were always approachable and willing to offer extra help. Extracurricular activities played a huge role in my high school life. Whether it was sports, clubs, or the arts, there were countless opportunities to get involved, meet new people, and develop leadership skills. I particularly enjoyed [mention any specific club or activity], which helped me build lasting friendships and grow as a person.... Read 553 reviews

Middle school student: This school has finally began to be getting there stuff together, administration is a bit better, teachers are now beginning to care. Just keep an eye out for some bullies, still a bit of an issue but the school has improved since last year and I hope to see this improvement become a trend. Drone Soccer is OK, I personally am not enjoying it, I feel that there isn't enough interactive lessons and its just "Go fly." It's finally a decent school to go to, good job CSA!... Read 5 reviews

Parent: This school has been an answer to our prayers. Our eldest child’s unique emotional-social needs are being met and coached. Academically, both our children receive quality instruction; these teachers care and are responsive to parent input and concern. It has been a rough year in terms of school funding and offering teachers competitive salaries, yet the admin and teachers are diligently pressing on. We are so grateful for that. The admin staff has the students’ best always in mind. Oh! And Adventure Education! Our children have adopted the mantra of “we can do hard things,” and their sense of teamwork and resilience would make any parent proud.... Read 2 reviews

Alum: Attending Ponderosa High School was an incredible experience, filled opportunities for growth and learning. Being part of the volleyball team taught me the importance of teamwork and perseverance, while participating in DECA allowed me to develop my business and leadership skills. They had great coaches and teacher leading these groups. Additionally, serving in student government provided a platform to voice student concerns and contribute to the school community. However, there was not much diversity at the school, which sometimes left me feeling unprepared for the broader world. While I gained many valuable lessons, I didn't always feel fully equipped for the academic and social challenges of college. Nevertheless, the memories and experiences from high school have left a lasting impact on my life.... Read 301 reviews

Parent: We fell in love with Leman during our tour and so happy our children are here! Classical education is not for everyone, but it's definitely for us. I love that they teach virtues and values every day - not only teach it, but they learn to apply it to their lives! It's a lower-technology school (by choice) and I appreciate that our kids learn cursive handwriting and say the Pledge of Allegiance every day. The principal is always outside greeting the kids and really being a part of the school. Leman is truly a family!... Read 1 review

Parent: Franktown has been amazing for our kids. My daughter started in kindergarten and now is in middle school and my son is currently in 5th grade there. Yes the school has grown as has everything in Douglas county. They have done an amazing job accommodating the growth. I am so sad that my time as a Franktown parent is coming to an end.... Read 2 reviews