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Cortez City HallPhoto: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 4.0
D
Schools in Cortez · Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1

Cortez’s public schools score below 89% of Colorado districts on tests and graduation

15% of students in Cortez’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Colorado average (32%). The grade covers the public school district serving Cortez, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Colorado, not nationally.

#153of 159 Colorado townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Colorado state tests taken in spring 2022, when 90% 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
28%
▼ 17 pts vs CO 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
15%
▼ 17 pts vs CO 32%
2021–22
Graduate on time
65–69%
▼ 14–18 pts vs CO 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.9K
▼ 13% vs CO $15.9K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.4
CO 16.3 · smaller classes
Schools in town
8
1,871 students on the public path
In brief

Cortez’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 116 Colorado towns with household incomes within a quarter of Cortez’s, its schools beat 6%, lower than their 11% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 28% of tested students were proficient in reading and 15% in math, against 45% and 32% statewide; 90% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

65–69% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83% across Colorado (the state reports Cortez’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending, and where it came from

The district spent $13,869 per student in FY2024, against $15,889 across Colorado. 30% of its revenue that year was federal (Colorado 8%), in the last year of pandemic relief. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Montezuma-Cortez Middle School, then Montezuma-Cortez High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Southwest Open Charter School, Children's Kiva Montessori School and Cortez Adventist Christian School (private) are 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 Cortez’s grade

C− Test scoresD Graduation

D: better than 11% of Colorado school districts, #153 of 159 Colorado towns. Both inputs trail the Colorado average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Colorado school districts we grade (169)Better than 11%
Lower resultsHigher results
Colorado towns with similar household incomes (116)Better than 6%
DC−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,218 test results and a graduating class of 158 could put Cortez anywhere from D to C−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 90% of Cortez’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,217 in math, 1,220 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC to B+
6–8Montezuma-Cortez Middle SchoolMontezuma-Cortez School District RE-1C−
9–12Montezuma-Cortez High SchoolMontezuma-Cortez School District RE-1B−

Cortez’s public schools are run by Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1. 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.

Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1Grades PK–12 · 10 schools · 2,380 students · 15.4 per teacher (CO 16.3)
$13,869CO $15,889 · FY2024
D
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading28%
State average 44.9% · 1220 students tested
Math15%
State average 31.8% · 1217 students tested
A note on the data.In FY2024, 30% of the Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1 district’s revenue came from the federal government, against 8% across Colorado, in the last year of federal pandemic relief; spending per student is reported as published.

Cortez vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
CortezDMontezuma-Cortez School District RE-1

Every school in Cortez

8 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 Cortezby address
Beech Street Preschool
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
70 studentsRate it →
Mesa Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C
359 students13:1Rate it →
Kemper Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
B+
339 students14:1Rate it →
Montezuma-Cortez Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C−
505 students15:1Rate it →
Montezuma-Cortez High School
High · Grades 9–12
B−
598 students21:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Southwest Open Charter School
High · Grades 9–12
C−
CharterAlternative Education
131 students12:1Rate it →
Children's Kiva Montessori School
Elementary · Grades K–8
C
Charter
130 students14:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Cortez Adventist Christian School
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Religious
22 students11:1Rate it →

Questions about Cortez’s schools

Are Cortez’s schools good?

On Colorado’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Cortez children attend score below 89% of Colorado’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade, #153 of 159 Colorado towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 6%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Cortez in?

Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,380 students in 10 schools (2024–25).

Where do Cortez kids go to high school?

Montezuma-Cortez High School, with 598 students; its own test results earn a B−.

What is Cortez’s graduation rate?

65–69% of the class of 2023 in Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1 graduated in four years, against 83% across Colorado.

How much does Cortez spend per student?

$13,869 in Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1 (FY2024), against $15,889 across Colorado. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Cortez?

Yes: Cortez Adventist Christian School (religious, grades K–8, 22 students). Cortez also has 2 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Cortez families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Cortez → 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.