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La Junta city limit signPhoto: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 4.0
C
Schools in La Junta · East Otero School District R-1

La Junta’s public schools score below 75% of Colorado districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 7% of La Junta’s students scored proficient, below the Colorado average (32%). The grade covers the public school district serving La Junta, 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.

#145of 159 Colorado townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Colorado state tests taken in spring 2022, when 72% 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
19%
▼ 26 pts vs CO 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
7%
▼ 25 pts vs CO 32%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 7–11 pts vs CO 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.2K
▼ 4% vs CO $15.9K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.2
CO 16.3 · smaller classes
Schools in town
4
1,194 students on the public path
In brief

La Junta’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 110 Colorado towns with household incomes within a quarter of La Junta’s, its schools beat 17%, lower than their 25% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 19% of tested students were proficient in reading and 7% in math, against 45% and 32% statewide; 72% 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 La Junta’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending, and where it came from

The district spent $15,180 per student in FY2024, against $15,889 across Colorado. 21% of its revenue that year was federal (Colorado 8%), in the last year of pandemic relief. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one middle school

From grade 3 the district’s path is La Junta Intermediate School, then La Junta Jr/Sr High School. Enrollment is down 7% since 2020–21. 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 La Junta’s grade

D− Test scoresB+ Graduation

C: better than 25% of Colorado school districts, #145 of 159 Colorado towns. Graduation is above the Colorado average; test scores are below it.

Colorado school districts we grade (169)Better than 25%
Lower resultsHigher results
Colorado towns with similar household incomes (110)Better than 17%
C−C+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 552 test results and a graduating class of 107 could put La Junta anywhere from C− to C+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 72% of La Junta’s students in the tested grades sat them (549 in math, 555 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–2La Junta Primary SchoolEast Otero School District R-1No scores
3–6La Junta Intermediate SchoolEast Otero School District R-1D
7–12La Junta Jr/Sr High SchoolEast Otero School District R-1C

La Junta’s public schools are run by East Otero School District R-1. Parts of La Junta (4% of its land) are served by Swink School District 33 instead. 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.

East Otero School District R-1Grades K–12 · 4 schools · 1,284 students, down 7% since 2020–21 · 14.2 per teacher (CO 16.3)
$15,180CO $15,889 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading19%
State average 44.9% · 555 students tested
Math7%
State average 31.8% · 549 students tested
A note on the data.In FY2024, 21% of the East Otero School District R-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.

La Junta vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
La JuntaCEast Otero School District R-1

Every school in La Junta

4 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 La Juntaby address
La Junta Primary School
Elementary · Grades K–2
296 students11:1Rate it →
La Junta Intermediate School
Elementary · Grades 3–6
D
397 students15:1Rate it →
La Junta Jr/Sr High School
High · Grades 7–12
C
501 students16:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Tiger Trades Academy
High · Grades 5–12
D
Alternative Education
90 students15:1Rate it →

Questions about La Junta’s schools

Are La Junta’s schools good?

On Colorado’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools La Junta children attend score below 75% of Colorado’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #145 of 159 Colorado towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 17%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is La Junta in?

East Otero School District R-1, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 1,284 students in 4 schools (2024–25). Small parts of La Junta are served by Swink School District 33.

What is La Junta’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in East Otero School District R-1 graduated in four years, against 83% across Colorado.

How much does La Junta spend per student?

$15,180 in East Otero School District R-1 (FY2024), against $15,889 across Colorado. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What La Junta families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near La Junta → 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.