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Crested Butte Denver and Rio Grande Railroad DepotCrested Butte Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Depot · Photo: Int77345 · CC BY-SA 4.0
A−
Schools in Crested Butte · Gunnison Watershed School District RE-1J

Crested Butte’s public schools outscore 75% of Colorado districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Crested Butte, 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.

K–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
48%
▲ 3 pts vs CO 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
30%
▼ 2 pts vs CO 32%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▲ 2–6 pts vs CO 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$16.3K
▲ 3% vs CO $15.9K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.3
CO 16.3 · smaller classes
Schools in town
2
703 students on the public path
In brief

Crested Butte’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 146 Colorado towns with household incomes within a quarter of Crested Butte’s, its schools beat 70%, lower than their 75% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 48% and math 30% in spring 2022, against 45% and 32% statewide; 85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $16,300 per student, against $15,889 across Colorado (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Crested Butte Secondary School. See the path ↓

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 Crested Butte’s grade

B+ Test scoresB− Graduation

A−: better than 75% of Colorado school districts. Test scores and graduation are both above the Colorado average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Colorado school districts we grade (169)Better than 75%
Lower resultsHigher results
Colorado towns with similar household incomes (146)Better than 70%
B+A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,021 test results and a graduating class of 160 could put Crested Butte anywhere from B+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 92% of Crested Butte’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,017 in math, 1,025 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–5Crested Butte Elementary SchoolGunnison Watershed School District RE-1JB+
6–12Crested Butte Secondary SchoolGunnison Watershed School District RE-1JA−

Crested Butte’s public schools are run by Gunnison Watershed School District RE-1J, which also serves Gunnison, Marble, Mount Crested Butte and Pitkin. 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.

Gunnison Watershed School District RE-1JGrades PK–12 · 7 schools · 2,095 students, up 1% since 2020–21 · 14.3 per teacher (CO 16.3)
$16,300CO $15,889 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading48%
State average 44.9% · 1025 students tested
Math30%
State average 31.8% · 1017 students tested

Crested Butte vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Crested ButteA−Gunnison Watershed School District RE-1J

Every school in Crested Butte

2 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 Crested Butteby address
Crested Butte Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
B+
303 students15:1Rate it →
Crested Butte Secondary School
High · Grades 6–12
A−
400 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Crested Butte’s schools

Are Crested Butte’s schools good?

By Colorado’s own tests, yes: the public schools Crested Butte children attend outscore 75% of Colorado’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 70%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Crested Butte in?

Gunnison Watershed School District RE-1J, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,095 students in 7 schools (2024–25).

What is Crested Butte’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Gunnison Watershed School District RE-1J graduated in four years, against 83% across Colorado.

How much does Crested Butte spend per student?

$16,300 in Gunnison Watershed School District RE-1J (FY2024), against $15,889 across Colorado. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Crested Butte families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Crested Butte → 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.