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Rifle, ColoradoPhoto: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 4.0
C+
Schools in Rifle · Garfield School District RE-2

Rifle’s public schools score below 62% of Colorado districts on tests and graduation

In Rifle, 18% of tested students are proficient in math, below the Colorado average (32%). The grade covers the public school district serving Rifle, 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.

#128of 159 Colorado townsK–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
35%
▼ 10 pts vs CO 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
18%
▼ 14 pts vs CO 32%
2021–22
Graduate on time
83%
▲ 0 pts vs CO 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.2K
▼ 11% vs CO $15.9K
FY2024
Students per teacher
17.5
CO 16.3 · larger classes
Schools in town
6
2,625 students on the public path
In brief

Rifle’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 147 Colorado towns with household incomes within a quarter of Rifle’s, its schools beat 28%, lower than their 38% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 35% of tested students were proficient in reading and 18% in math, against 45% and 32% statewide; 92% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

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

Spending and class size

The district spends $14,167 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 Rifle Middle School, then Rifle High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Emmanuel Lutheran Preschool & Kindergarten (private) is in town. 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 Rifle’s grade

C Test scoresC+ Graduation

C+: better than 38% of Colorado school districts, #128 of 159 Colorado towns. Graduation is above the Colorado average; test scores are below it.

Colorado school districts we grade (169)Better than 38%
Lower resultsHigher results
Colorado towns with similar household incomes (147)Better than 28%
CB−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,230 test results and a graduating class of 310 could put Rifle anywhere from C to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 92% of Rifle’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,230 in math, 2,231 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC− to C
6–8Rifle Middle SchoolGarfield School District RE-2C−
9–12Rifle High SchoolGarfield School District RE-2C+

Rifle’s public schools are run by Garfield School District RE-2, which also serves New Castle and Silt. 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.

Garfield School District RE-2Grades PK–12 · 10 schools · 4,695 students, up 4% since 2020–21 · 17.5 per teacher (CO 16.3)
$14,167CO $15,889 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading35%
State average 44.9% · 2231 students tested
Math18%
State average 31.8% · 2230 students tested

Rifle vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
RifleC+Garfield School District RE-2

Every school in Rifle

6 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 Rifleby address
Highland Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C−
451 students16:1Rate it →
Graham Mesa Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
424 students19:1Rate it →
Wamsley Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C−
420 students26:1Rate it →
Rifle Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C−
552 students15:1Rate it →
Rifle High School
High · Grades 9–12
C+
778 students20:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Emmanuel Lutheran Preschool & Kindergarten
Elementary · Grades PK–1
Private · Religious
36 students19:1Rate it →

Questions about Rifle’s schools

Are Rifle’s schools good?

On Colorado’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Rifle children attend score below 62% of Colorado’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #128 of 159 Colorado towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 28%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Rifle in?

Garfield School District RE-2, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 4,695 students in 10 schools (2024–25).

Where do Rifle kids go to high school?

Rifle High School, with 778 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Rifle’s graduation rate?

83% of the class of 2023 in Garfield School District RE-2 graduated in four years, against 83% across Colorado.

How much does Rifle spend per student?

$14,167 in Garfield School District RE-2 (FY2024), against $15,889 across Colorado. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Rifle?

Yes: Emmanuel Lutheran Preschool & Kindergarten (religious, grades PK–1, 36 students).

Parents talk

What Rifle families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Rifle → 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.