Denver School Districts by ZIP Code — 2026 Guide

Choosing where to live in Denver often starts with one question: which school district is best? Unlike many cities, the Denver metro area is served by more than a dozen school districts, and your ZIP code determines which one your children will attend. Understanding this map is critical for families relocating to the area.

Denver Public Schools (DPS) is the largest district, covering all ZIP codes within the City and County of Denver — from 80202 downtown to 80239 in Montbello. DPS operates a choice enrollment system, meaning families can apply to schools outside their neighborhood boundary. Top-rated DPS schools include Denver School of the Arts (80210), Steck Elementary (80222), and Bromwell Elementary (80206). The district's SchoolChoice program opens applications each January for the following school year.

Cherry Creek School District (CCSD) serves southeastern suburbs and consistently ranks among Colorado's highest-performing districts. ZIP codes 80231 (south Denver edge), 80246 and 80247 (Hampden South), and parts of Centennial and Aurora fall within CCSD boundaries. Greenwood Village and the area around the Denver Tech Center are CCSD territory. The district's graduation rate exceeds 90%, and multiple high schools rank in U.S. News & World Report's national top 500.

Jefferson County Public Schools (Jeffco) is Colorado's largest district by enrollment and covers western metro ZIP codes including 80215, 80226, 80227, 80228, and 80232 in Lakewood, plus Arvada, Golden, and Evergreen. Jeffco offers a blend of traditional, charter, and option schools. Families in ZIP code 80228 benefit from proximity to both Green Mountain High School and the Colorado School of Mines STEM pipeline.

Adams County districts — Adams 12 Five Star (80221, 80229, 80233, 80234, 80241) and Mapleton (80221, 80229) — serve the northern suburbs and offer strong career and technical education programs. Westminster, Thornton, and Northglenn families should verify exact district boundaries, as ZIP codes in Adams County sometimes straddle two districts. The Adams 12 district has invested heavily in full-day kindergarten and early childhood programs, making it attractive for young families.

When researching schools, always verify your specific address against the district's boundary map — ZIP codes and school districts don't align perfectly. A home in 80227, for instance, could be in either DPS or Jeffco depending on which side of the street it sits on. Use the Colorado Department of Education's SchoolView portal for the latest performance ratings and enrollment data.