Best Schools in Montrose, Colorado
14 schools · 6 Elementary · 2 Middle · 3 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Montrose?
Use this page to compare every school in Montrose by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Peak Virtual Academy
Other · Montrose County School District Re-1j. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Cottonwood Elementary School
Elementary · Montrose County School District Re-1j. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Pope John Paul II Academy
Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Montrose for 2026 are Peak Virtual Academy (7.6/10), Cottonwood Elementary School (6.7/10), and Pope John Paul II Academy (6.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 11 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
14
13 public · 1 private
Avg Score
5.3
out of 10
Median Home
$412,450
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
14
13 public · 1 private
Avg Score
5.3
out of 10
Median Home
$412,450
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 4.8/10 despite 81% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.0 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Montrose schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Montrose
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (11 of 14). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peak Virtual Academy | 7.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Cottonwood Elementary School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Pope John Paul II Academy | 6.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Montrose High School | 6.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Centennial Middle School | 6.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Columbine Middle School | 5.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Oak Grove Elementary School | 4.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Northside Elementary School | 4.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Vista Charter School | 4.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Pomona Elementary School | 4.0 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.3/10
- Median household income
- $68,589
- Median home value
- $412,450
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 32%
- Avg commute
- 21 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 76%
8% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Montrose compares
Colorado rank
#96 of 125
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.0
below Colorado avg (6.2)
Median household income
$69k
79% of Colorado median
Schools in this city
12
About Schools in Montrose, Colorado
Montrose, Colorado has 11 ranked public schools, with an average score of 5.6 out of 10. That average puts the city squarely in the middle of the performance spectrum — serviceable, but with limited standout options. Only 1 of those 11 schools, or 9%, clears the 7-point threshold. Most schools cluster near the median rather than pulling sharply in either direction, which shapes what parents can realistically expect across the district.
The strongest performer is Cottonwood Elementary School, rated 7.1 out of 10 — the only school in Montrose that crosses into above-average territory. Pomona Elementary (6.7) and Northside Elementary (6.5) follow close behind, giving the city a genuine cluster of competitive options at the elementary level. Parents with children in the early grades have the most to work with here. The top three elementary schools all land above the city average, a pattern that makes grade level a relevant factor when comparing schools.
The picture narrows at the middle school level. Centennial Middle School scores 5.7 out of 10, sitting just above the city average. Oak Grove Elementary rounds out the lower tier at 5.5. Neither school is a serious concern, but neither separates itself from the pack. Families researching those grade bands will find fewer clear differentiators.
For parents deciding where to live or enroll, the data points to one practical move: treat elementary school boundaries as a priority. The gap between Montrose's top school (7.1) and the city average (5.6) is 1.5 points — meaningful on a 10-point scale. Cottonwood, Pomona, and Northside represent the district's strongest academic options, and all three serve the elementary years. Middle school choices are effectively consolidated around Centennial. Parents who weight academic outcomes heavily should map school attendance zones early in any housing search, since the city's above-average schools are concentrated at the elementary tier and account for a small share of the overall landscape.
Elementary Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 412 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.7 | ||
| 2 | 387 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.9 | ||
| 3 | 338 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.8 | ||
| 4 | 328 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.0 | ||
| 5 | 528 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.7 | ||
| 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 | Pope John Paul II Academy
Private
65 students · Pre-K–7th | 6.5 | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 555 students · 6th–8th | 6.0 |
| 2 | 508 students · 6th–8th | 5.2 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,275 students · 9th–12th | 6.1 |
| 2 | 177 students · 9th–12th | 4.3 |
| 3 | 118 students · 9th–12th | — |
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 221 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.6 |
| 2 | 170 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 3.2 |
| 3 | 83 students · Pre-K–12th | — |
Schools in Montrose
Montrose, Colorado · 14 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$68,589
Median Home Value
$412,450
Median Rent
$1,213/mo
Population
35,674
College Educated
32%
Homeownership
76%
Avg Commute
21 min
Poverty Rate
11.2%
Community Profile
Montrose has a median household income of $68,589. It is an area where 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $412,450, with a median rent of $1,213/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.2%. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Colorado
- Elementary
- 6
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 3
- Other
- 3
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Colorado
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Montrose, Colorado
How many schools are in Montrose, Colorado?
Montrose has 14 schools, including 13 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Montrose, Colorado?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Montrose is 5.3 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Montrose, Colorado?
The top-ranked school in Montrose on MySchoolScout is Peak Virtual Academy with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Montrose, Colorado?
The top-ranked elementary school in Montrose on MySchoolScout is Cottonwood Elementary School with a composite score of 6.7/10.
What is the best middle school in Montrose, Colorado?
The top-ranked middle school in Montrose on MySchoolScout is Centennial Middle School with a composite score of 6.0/10.
What is the best high school in Montrose, Colorado?
The top-ranked high school in Montrose on MySchoolScout is Montrose High School with a composite score of 6.1/10.
How many school districts serve Montrose, Colorado?
Montrose is served by 1 school district: Montrose County School District Re-1j.
What is the education level in Montrose, Colorado?
According to Census data, 32% of adults in Montrose have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Montrose, Colorado?
The median household income in Montrose is approximately $68,589 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Montrose, Colorado?
Yes, Montrose has 1 private school alongside 13 public schools. The top-rated private school is Pope John Paul II Academy with a score of 6.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Montrose, Colorado?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Montrose is 20.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Montrose, 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 built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Colorado Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.