Durango School District No. 9-R

201 East 12th Street
Durango, CO 81301
(District boundaries shown in map)
9/
10
Top 20%

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 2026 school year, there are 10 public elementary schools serving 2,886 students in Durango School District No. 9-R. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public elementary schools in Colorado.
Public Elementary Schools in Durango School District No. 9-R have an average math proficiency score of 34% (versus the Colorado public elementary school average of 33%), and reading proficiency score of 48% (versus the 43% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 35% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Colorado public elementary school average of 51% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (CO)
# Schools
12 Schools
1,463 Schools
# Students
4,337 Students
601,108 Students
# Teachers
339 Teachers
38,423 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.
This School District
State Average (CO)
#32 out of 179 school districts
(Top 20%)
35%
33%
50%
45%
(20-21)
33%
29%
85%
82%
(2022-23)
31.8%
33.6%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.52
0.63
% American Indian
6%
1%
% Asian
1%
3%
% Hispanic
22%
37%
% Black
1%
5%
% White
65%
48%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $20,955 is higher than the state median of $15,523. The school district revenue/student has grown by 48% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $17,314 is higher than the state median of $15,842. The school district spending/student has grown by 43% over four school years.
This School District
This State (CO)
Total Revenue
$91 MM
$13,426 MM
Spending
$75 MM
$13,702 MM
Revenue / Student
$20,955
$15,523
Spending / Student
$17,314
$15,842

Best Durango School District No. 9-R Public Elementary Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Park Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
510 E. 6th Ave.
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-3718
Gr: PK-5 | 452 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #22.
The Juniper School
Charter School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
225 Sawyer Dr
Durango, CO 81302
(970) 764-4185
Gr: K-8 | 171 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #33.
Needham Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2425 West Third Avenue
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-4791
Gr: PK-5 | 367 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #44.
Riverview Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2900 Mesa Avenue
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-3862
Gr: PK-5 | 374 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #55.
Miller Middle School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2608 Junction Street
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-1418
Gr: 6-8 | 360 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #66.
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
11274 Highway 140
Hesperus, CO 81326
(970) 588-3331
Gr: PK-5 | 116 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Animas Valley Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
373 Hermosa Meadows Road
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-0124
Gr: PK-5 | 185 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Florida Mesa Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
216 Highway 172
Durango, CO 81303
(970) 247-4250
Gr: PK-5 | 293 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #99.
Escalante Middle School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
141 Baker Lane
Durango, CO 81303
(970) 247-9491
Gr: 6-8 | 461 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #1010.
Sunnyside Elementary School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
75 Cr 218
Durango, CO 81303
(970) 259-5249
Gr: PK-5 | 107 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 38%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 12 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 4,337 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 34%
  • : 85% (Top 30% in CO)
  • : Top 20%
  • : 35% (Top 20%)
  • : 50% (Top 20%)
  • : 33% (Top 30%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CO Dept. of Education

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