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Durango, ColoradoPhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
B+
Schools in Durango · Durango School District 9-R

Durango’s public schools outscore 74% of Colorado districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Durango, 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.

#74of 159 Colorado townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Colorado state tests taken in spring 2022, when 78% 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
50%
▲ 5 pts vs CO 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
31%
▼ 1 pts vs CO 32%
2021–22
Graduate on time
84%
▲ 1 pts vs CO 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.3K
▲ 9% vs CO $15.9K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.8
CO 16.3 · smaller classes
Schools in town
12
2,905 students on the public path
In brief

Durango’s schools, in brief

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 50% and math 31% in spring 2022, against 45% and 32% statewide; 84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,301 per student, against $15,889 across Colorado (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

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

Choice beyond the district

Animas High School, Mountain Middle School, The Juniper School, St. Columba School (private), Children's House of Durango (private) and Durango Montessori School (private) are in town. Southwest Colorado eSchool, 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 Durango’s grade

A− Test scoresC+ Graduation

B+: better than 74% of Colorado school districts, #74 of 159 Colorado towns. 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 74%
Lower resultsHigher results
Colorado towns with similar household incomes (145)Better than 70%
B+A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,178 test results and a graduating class of 444 could put Durango anywhere from B+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 78% of Durango’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,171 in math, 2,184 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB− to B+
6–8Miller Middle SchoolDurango School District 9-RC+
9–12Durango High SchoolDurango School District 9-RA

Durango’s public schools are run by Durango School District 9-R. 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.

Durango School District 9-RGrades PK–12 · 12 schools · 4,337 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 12.8 per teacher (CO 16.3)
$17,301CO $15,889 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading50%
State average 44.9% · 2184 students tested
Math31%
State average 31.8% · 2171 students tested

Durango vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
DurangoB+Durango School District 9-R

Every school in Durango

13 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 Durangoby address
Park Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B+
452 students13:1Rate it →
Riverview Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B
374 students12:1Rate it →
Needham Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B−
367 students12:1Rate it →
Miller Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
360 students12:1Rate it →
Durango High School
High · Grades 9–12
A
1,352 students16:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Durango Big Picture High School
High · Grades 9–12
A−
Alternative Education
99 students9:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Mountain Middle School
Middle · Grades 4–8
A
Charter
302 students19:1Rate it →
Animas High School
High · Grades 9–12
A−
Charter
249 students11:1Rate it →
The Juniper School
Elementary · Grades K–8
C+
Charter
171 students14:1Rate it →
Online schools based in Durangonot counted as local schools
Southwest Colorado eSchool
High · Grades 6–12
A−
Online
48 students30:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Columba School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
287 students17:1Rate it →
Children's House of Durango
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
46 students10:1Rate it →
Durango Montessori School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
Private · Nonsectarian
46 students8:1Rate it →

Questions about Durango’s schools

Are Durango’s schools good?

By Colorado’s own tests, yes: the public schools Durango children attend outscore 74% of Colorado’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #74 of 159 Colorado towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 70%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Durango in?

Durango School District 9-R, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 4,337 students in 12 schools (2024–25).

Where do Durango kids go to high school?

Durango High School, with 1,352 students; its own test results earn an A.

What is Durango’s graduation rate?

84% of the class of 2023 in Durango School District 9-R graduated in four years, against 83% across Colorado.

How much does Durango spend per student?

$17,301 in Durango School District 9-R (FY2024), against $15,889 across Colorado. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Durango?

Yes: St. Columba School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 287 students), Children's House of Durango (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 46 students) and Durango Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 46 students). Durango also has 3 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Durango families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Durango → 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.