Top Rankings
Durango School District No. 9-R ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Colorado for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 7 public preschools serving 1,882 students in Durango School District No. 9-R. This district's average pre testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public pre schools in Colorado.
Public Preschools in Durango School District No. 9-R have an average math proficiency score of 39% (versus the Colorado public pre school average of 35%), and reading proficiency score of 48% (versus the 42% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 35% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Colorado public preschool average of 52% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CO)
# Schools
14 Schools
802 Schools
# Students
5,302 Students
295,618 Students
# Teachers
398 Teachers
19,047 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Durango School District No. 9-R, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 176 school districts in Colorado (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 85% has increased from 78% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#32 out of 179 school districts
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
35%
33%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
45%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)33%
29%
Graduation Rate
85%
82%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.51
0.63
% American Indian
5%
n/a
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
22%
37%
% Black
1%
5%
% White
66%
48%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $17,141 is higher than the state median of $15,473. The school district revenue/student has grown by 30% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,163 is less than the state median of $15,791. The school district spending/student has grown by 30% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$91 MM
$13,426 MM
Spending
$75 MM
$13,702 MM
Revenue / Student
$17,141
$15,473
Spending / Student
$14,163
$15,791
Best Durango School District No. 9-R Public Preschools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Park Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
510 E. 6th Ave.
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-3718
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-3718
Gr: PK-5 | 439 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #22.
Needham Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2425 West Third Avenue
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-4791
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-4791
Gr: PK-5 | 347 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #33.
Riverview Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2900 Mesa Avenue
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-3862
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-3862
Gr: PK-5 | 413 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #44.
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
11274 Highway 140
Hesperus, CO 81326
(970) 588-3331
Hesperus, CO 81326
(970) 588-3331
Gr: PK-5 | 106 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Animas Valley Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
373 Hermosa Meadows Road
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-0124
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-0124
Gr: PK-5 | 183 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Florida Mesa Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
216 Highway 172
Durango, CO 81303
(970) 247-4250
Durango, CO 81303
(970) 247-4250
Gr: PK-5 | 286 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #77.
Sunnyside Elementary School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
75 Cr 218
Durango, CO 81303
(970) 259-5249
Durango, CO 81303
(970) 259-5249
Gr: PK-5 | 108 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Recent Articles

10 Advantages of Public Education in 2025
Explore 10 key benefits of public education in 2025, with fresh statistics, expert insights, and real-world examples for parents and educators.

COVID-19’s Lasting Impact on U.S. Public Schools (2025)
Explore how COVID-19 continues to affect U.S. public schools in 2025: learning losses, enrollment shifts, mental health, and recovery strategies.