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US Post Office and Federal Building-Delta MainUS Post Office and Federal Building-Delta Main · Photo: Jeffrey Beall from Colorado, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
B
Schools in Delta · Delta County School District 50J

Delta’s public schools outscore 56% of Colorado districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Delta, 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.

#108of 159 Colorado townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Colorado state tests taken in spring 2022, when 93% 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
43%
▼ 2 pts vs CO 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
28%
▼ 4 pts vs CO 32%
2021–22
Graduate on time
79%
▼ 4 pts vs CO 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.6K
▼ 8% vs CO $15.9K
FY2024
Students per teacher
16.1
CO 16.3
Schools in town
8
2,171 students on the public path
In brief

Delta’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 77 Colorado towns with household incomes within a quarter of Delta’s, its schools beat 64%, higher than their 56% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 43% of tested students were proficient in reading and 28% in math, against 45% and 32% statewide; 93% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

79% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83% across Colorado. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $14,596 per student, against $15,889 across Colorado (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. 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 Delta Middle School, then Delta High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Redeemer Lutheran School & Tiny Treasures (private) is in town. Vision Charter Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. 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 Delta’s grade

B+ Test scoresC Graduation

B: better than 56% of Colorado school districts, #108 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 56%
Lower resultsHigher results
Colorado towns with similar household incomes (77)Better than 64%
C+B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,158 test results and a graduating class of 351 could put Delta anywhere from C+ to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 93% of Delta’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,139 in math, 2,177 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB−
6–8Delta Middle SchoolDelta County School District 50JC+
9–12Delta High SchoolDelta County School District 50JB

Delta’s public schools are run by Delta County School District 50J, which also serves Cedaredge, Crawford, Hotchkiss and Orchard City and others. 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.

Delta County School District 50JGrades PK–12 · 16 schools · 4,396 students, down 4% since 2020–21 · 16.1 per teacher (CO 16.3)
$14,596CO $15,889 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading43%
State average 44.9% · 2177 students tested
Math28%
State average 31.8% · 2139 students tested

Delta vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
DeltaBDelta County School District 50J

Every school in Delta

9 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 Deltaby address
Backpack Early Learning Academy
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
188 studentsRate it →
Garnet Mesa Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
B−
488 students16:1Rate it →
Lincoln Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
B−
371 students15:1Rate it →
Delta Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
498 students18:1Rate it →
Delta High School
High · Grades 9–12
B
626 students16:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Grand Mesa Choice Academy
High · Grades 7–12
D
Alternative Education
68 students14:1Rate it →
Delta Academy of Applied Learning
Middle · Grades 5–8
A−
Alternative Education
25 students13:1Rate it →
Online schools based in Deltanot counted as local schools
Vision Charter Academy
Grades K–12
B−
CharterOnlineAlternative Education
311 students19:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Redeemer Lutheran School & Tiny Treasures
Elementary · Grades PK–6
Private · Religious
79 students19:1Rate it →

Questions about Delta’s schools

Are Delta’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Colorado: the public schools Delta children attend outscore 56% of Colorado’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #108 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 Delta in?

Delta County School District 50J, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 4,396 students in 16 schools (2024–25).

Where do Delta kids go to high school?

Delta High School, with 626 students; its own test results earn a B.

What is Delta’s graduation rate?

79% of the class of 2023 in Delta County School District 50J graduated in four years, against 83% across Colorado.

How much does Delta spend per student?

$14,596 in Delta County School District 50J (FY2024), against $15,889 across Colorado. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Delta?

Yes: Redeemer Lutheran School & Tiny Treasures (religious, grades PK–6, 79 students).

Parents talk

What Delta families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Delta → 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.