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C+
Schools in Pierce · Ault-Highland School District RE-9

Pierce’s public schools score below 63% of Colorado districts on tests and graduation

On the state reading tests, 28% of Pierce’s students scored proficient, below the Colorado average (45%). The grade covers the public school district serving Pierce, 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 57% 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
20%
▼ 12 pts vs CO 32%
2021–22
Graduate on time
80–89%
▼ 3–6 pts vs CO 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.0K
▼ 18% vs CO $15.9K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.2
CO 16.3 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
976 students on the public path
In brief

Pierce’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 28% of tested students were proficient in reading and 20% in math, against 45% and 32% statewide; 57% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

80–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83% across Colorado (the state reports Pierce’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,043 per student, against $15,889 across Colorado (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Highland Middle School, then Highland High School. Enrollment is up 8% 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 Pierce’s grade

C Test scoresC+ Graduation

C+: better than 37% of Colorado school districts. Graduation is above the Colorado average; test scores are below it.

Colorado school districts we grade (169)Better than 37%
Lower resultsHigher results
Colorado towns with similar household incomes (125)Better than 40%
C−BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 309 test results and a graduating class of 58 could put Pierce anywhere from C− to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 57% of Pierce’s students in the tested grades sat them (309 in math, 309 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–5Highland Elementary SchoolAult-Highland School District RE-9C
6–8Highland Middle Schoolin AultC+
9–12Highland High Schoolin AultB

Pierce’s public schools are run by Ault-Highland School District RE-9, which also serves Ault, Nunn and Severance. 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.

Ault-Highland School District RE-9Grades K–12 · 3 schools · 976 students, up 8% since 2020–21 · 15.2 per teacher (CO 16.3)
$13,043CO $15,889 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading28%
State average 44.9% · 309 students tested
Math20%
State average 31.8% · 309 students tested

Pierce vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
PierceC+Ault-Highland School District RE-9

Every school in Pierce

3 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 Pierceby address
Highland Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C
443 students17:1Rate it →
Also serving Piercein other towns
Highland Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Ault
C+
234 students14:1Rate it →
Highland High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Ault
B
299 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Pierce’s schools

Are Pierce’s schools good?

On Colorado’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Pierce children attend score below 63% of Colorado’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 40%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Pierce in?

Ault-Highland School District RE-9, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 976 students in 3 schools (2024–25).

Where do Pierce kids go to high school?

Highland High School in Ault, with 299 students; its own test results earn a B.

What is Pierce’s graduation rate?

80–89% of the class of 2023 in Ault-Highland School District RE-9 graduated in four years, against 83% across Colorado.

How much does Pierce spend per student?

$13,043 in Ault-Highland School District RE-9 (FY2024), against $15,889 across Colorado. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Pierce families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Pierce → 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.