Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Buena Vista

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Buena Vista, Colorado, Town HallPhoto: Elisa.rolle · CC BY-SA 4.0
B+
Schools in Buena Vista · Buena Vista School District R-31

Buena Vista’s public schools outscore 67% of Colorado districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Buena Vista, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. In Buena Vista, 23% of tested students are proficient in math, below the Colorado average (32%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Colorado, not nationally.

#84of 159 Colorado townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Colorado state tests taken in spring 2022, when 92% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
41%
▼ 4 pts vs CO 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
23%
▼ 9 pts vs CO 32%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 7–11 pts vs CO 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.7K
▼ 1% vs CO $15.9K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.0
CO 16.3 · smaller classes
Schools in town
5
910 students on the public path
In brief

Buena Vista’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 41% of tested students were proficient in reading and 23% in math, against 45% and 32% statewide; 92% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83% across Colorado (the state reports Buena Vista’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,722 per student, against $15,889 across Colorado (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Buena Vista Middle School, then Buena Vista High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Darren Patterson Christian Academy (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Buena Vista’s grade

B− Test scoresB+ Graduation

B+: better than 67% of Colorado school districts, #84 of 159 Colorado towns. Graduation is above the Colorado average; test scores are below it.

Colorado school districts we grade (169)Better than 67%
Lower resultsHigher results
Colorado towns with similar household incomes (146)Better than 64%
B−A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 485 test results and a graduating class of 80 could put Buena Vista anywhere from B− to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 92% of Buena Vista’s students in the tested grades sat them (485 in math, 485 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Buena Vista, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–5Avery/Parsons Elementary SchoolBuena Vista School District R-31C
6–8Buena Vista Middle SchoolBuena Vista School District R-31B−
9–12Buena Vista High SchoolBuena Vista School District R-31A−

Buena Vista’s public schools are run by Buena Vista School District R-31. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Buena Vista School District R-31Grades PK–12 · 5 schools · 925 students, down 4% since 2020–21 · 12.0 per teacher (CO 16.3)
$15,722CO $15,889 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading41%
State average 44.9% · 485 students tested
Math23%
State average 31.8% · 485 students tested

Buena Vista vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Colorado towns that share Buena Vista’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Buena VistaB+Buena Vista School District R-31

Every school in Buena Vista

5 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Colorado’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Buena Vistaby address
The Grove BVSD's Early Learning Program
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
60 studentsRate it →
Avery/Parsons Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C
383 students13:1Rate it →
Buena Vista Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B−
211 students11:1Rate it →
Buena Vista High School
High · Grades 9–12
A−
256 students11:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Darren Patterson Christian Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Buena Vista,
Private · Religious
147 students14:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Chaffee County High School).

Questions about Buena Vista’s schools

Are Buena Vista’s schools good?

By Colorado’s own tests, yes: the public schools Buena Vista children attend outscore 67% of Colorado’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #84 of 159 Colorado towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 64%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Buena Vista in?

Buena Vista School District R-31, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 925 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do Buena Vista kids go to high school?

Buena Vista High School, with 256 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Buena Vista’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in Buena Vista School District R-31 graduated in four years, against 83% across Colorado.

How much does Buena Vista spend per student?

$15,722 in Buena Vista School District R-31 (FY2024), against $15,889 across Colorado. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Buena Vista?

Yes: Darren Patterson Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–8, 147 students).

Parents talk

What Buena Vista families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Buena Vista → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Colorado. Stars are from neighbors.