6.9 avg / 10

Best Schools in Durango, Colorado

19 schools · 10 Elementary · 3 Middle · 5 High · 1 Other

Last updated: May 2026

Public: 14

Private: 5

Districts: 3

Avg Rating: 6.9/10

Estimated Scores: 22%

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 6.9/10
Median household income: $88,887
Median home value: $585,350
Bachelor's degree or higher: 46%
Avg commute: 19 min
Owner-occupied homes: 69%

How Durango compares

Colorado rank

#26 of 125

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

+0.6

above Colorado avg (6.3)

Median household income

$89k

103% of Colorado median

Schools in this city

18

About Schools in Durango, Colorado

Durango, Colorado is home to 19 schools, including 14 public schools and 5 private schools. The city's schools span 10 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 5 high schools.

With an average rating of 6.9 out of 10, schools in Durango show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which measures academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

The highest-performing school in Durango is Riverview Elementary School with a composite score of 9.1/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Durango is served by 3 school districts: State Charter School Institute, Durango School District No. 9-R, San Juan BOCES. These districts collectively serve 24,784 students.

Durango's community shows 46% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $88,887. The poverty rate in the area is 12.8%.

Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.

Filter by Level: All Levels (19) Elementary (10) Middle (3) High (5)

Filter by Type: All Types (19) Public (14) Private (5)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (19) Academics (19) Growth (14) Diversity (14) Resources (14)

Filter by ZIP: 81301 (14) 81303 (3) 81302 (2)

Elementary Schools

10 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Riverview Elementary School 413 students · Pre-K–5th	413	Pre-K–5th	9.1
2	Park Elementary School 439 students · Pre-K–5th	439	Pre-K–5th	9.0
3	The Juniper School 169 students · Kindergarten–8th	169	Kindergarten–8th	8.4
4	Needham Elementary School 347 students · Pre-K–5th	347	Pre-K–5th	8.2
5	Florida Mesa Elementary School 286 students · Pre-K–5th	286	Pre-K–5th	6.3
6	Sunnyside Elementary School 108 students · Pre-K–5th	108	Pre-K–5th	6.0
7	Animas Valley Elementary School 183 students · Pre-K–5th	183	Pre-K–5th	4.0
Private Schools 3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	ST COLUMBA SCHOOL Private 205 students · Pre-K–8th	205	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
2	DURANGO MONTESSORI SCHOOL Private 40 students · Pre-K–5th	40	Pre-K–5th	Not Rated
3	CHILDREN'S HOUSE OF DURANGO Private 11 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	11	Pre-K–Kindergarten	Not Rated

Middle Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Mountain Middle School 301 students · 4th–8th	301	4th–8th	7.4
2	Escalante Middle School 511 students · 6th–8th	511	6th–8th	7.3
3	Miller Middle School 398 students · 6th–8th	398	6th–8th	7.2

High Schools

5 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Durango Big Picture High School 91 students · 9th–12th	91	9th–12th	8.4
2	Durango High School 1,343 students · 9th–12th	1,343	9th–12th	7.6
3	Southwest Colorado eSchool 45 students · 6th–12th	45	6th–12th	6.8
4	Animas High School 234 students · 9th–12th	234	9th–12th	6.7
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	COLORADO TIMBERLINE ACADEMY Private 33 students · 9th–12th	33	9th–12th	Not Rated

Other Schools

1 school

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	THE LIBERTY SCHOOL Private 33 students · 3rd–9th	33	3rd–9th	Not Rated

Schools in Durango

Durango, Colorado · 19 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes

Median Income

$88,887

Median Home Value

$585,350

Median Rent

$1,429/mo

Population

39,588

College Educated

46%

Homeownership

69%

Avg Commute

19 min

Poverty Rate

12.8%

Community Profile

Durango has a median household income of $88,887. It is a well-educated community where 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $585,350, with a median rent of $1,429/month. The area has a poverty rate of 12.8%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Quick Facts

State: Colorado
Total Schools: 19
Elementary: 10
Middle: 3
High: 5
Districts: 3
Avg Rating: 6.9/10

Resources

🔍 Google "Durango schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Durango 📊 Niche Durango Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (3)

State Charter School Institute

44 schools · 19,593 students

Durango School District No. 9-R

13 schools · 5,146 students

San Juan BOCES

1 school · 45 students

Nearby Cities

Other Major Cities in Colorado

Top metros statewide by school count.

Denver 277 schools Colorado Springs 197 schools Aurora 115 schools Lakewood 54 schools Fort Collins 53 schools

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Durango, Colorado

How many schools are in Durango, Colorado?

Durango has 19 schools, including 14 public and 5 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Durango, Colorado?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Durango is 6.9 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

What is the top-ranked school in Durango, Colorado?

The top-ranked school in Durango on MySchoolScout is Riverview Elementary School with a composite score of 9.1/10.

What is the best elementary school in Durango, Colorado?

The top-ranked elementary school in Durango on MySchoolScout is Riverview Elementary School with a composite score of 9.1/10.

What is the best middle school in Durango, Colorado?

The top-ranked middle school in Durango on MySchoolScout is Mountain Middle School with a composite score of 7.4/10.

What is the best high school in Durango, Colorado?

The top-ranked high school in Durango on MySchoolScout is Durango Big Picture High School with a composite score of 8.4/10.

How many school districts serve Durango, Colorado?

Durango is served by 3 school districts: State Charter School Institute, Durango School District No. 9-r, San Juan Boces.

What is the education level in Durango, Colorado?

According to Census data, 46% of adults in Durango have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Durango, Colorado?

The median household income in Durango is approximately $88,887 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Durango, Colorado?

Yes, Durango has 5 private schools alongside 14 public schools. The top-rated private school is The Liberty School with a score of 5.9/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Durango, Colorado?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Durango is 11.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Durango, Colorado?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.