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Very Good

#480 of 1,815 schools in CO

Top 26% in state

Custer County High School

High School · Custer County School District Consolidate 1

P O BOX 730, Westcliffe, CO 81252

Enrollment

115

Student-Teacher

11.5:1

Score

7.6

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Colorado schools

#480 of 1,815

In Westcliffe

#1 of 3

public schools

In district

#1 of 3

Custer County School District Consolidate 1

Equity

8.5 / 10

Excellent

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Custer County High School

7.6/10

High School in Westcliffe · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Custer County Elementary School

6.0/10

0.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Custer Middle School

4.9/10

0.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Custer County High School

Custer County High School is a public high school in Westcliffe, CO, part of Custer County School District Consolidate 1. Custer County High School serves approximately 115 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 11.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Custer County High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10 and ranks #480 of 1,815 schools in CO.

Structured state assessment records for Custer County High School show 38% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).

How it compares1.1 pts above CO schools
  • This school 7.6 · Very Good
  • CO avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

At 115 students, Custer County High School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

Custer County High School sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

38% of students at Custer County High School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.3Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.33 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics8.3Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency30% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency69.5% (2021 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency50% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)39% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+10.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile74th
College Readiness6.0Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate80%+
AP Participation4.3%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment8.4Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,545
Chronic Absenteeism38.3%

Custer County High School — Students at Custer County High School score 50% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 39%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

46.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CO EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 38.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 63.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2021)
School
State
N/A

Based on 27 test records from CO state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
72%
ELA
97.5%
2010
Math
72%
ELA
97.5%
2011
Math
27%
ELA
67%
2012
Math
42%
ELA
67%
2013
Math
32%
ELA
67%
2014
Math
24.5%
ELA
44.5%
2015
Math
34.5%
ELA
34.5%
2016
Math
5%
ELA
24.5%
2017
Math
34.5%
ELA
44.5%
2018
Math
30%
ELA
69.5%
2019
Math
30%
ELA
69.5%
2020*
Math
49.5%
ELA
69.5%
2021*
Math
49.5%
ELA
69.5%
2022
Math
30%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.3/10.

How Custer County High School Compares

See how Custer County High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.6/10
74th percentile in CO
Academic
8.3/10
Excellent
Growth
8.3/10
Excellent
Environment
8.4/10
Excellent
AP Courses
1
State avg: 2.7
Advanced STEM
4/5
Subjects offered
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
46%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
10 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
38.3%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs1 AP course offered
4.3% participation·State avg: 2.7 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses4 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22
Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

P O BOX 730, Westcliffe, CO 81252

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Custer County High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Cotopaxi Junior-Senior High School (rated 6.7/10, 20.7 miles away, in nearby Cotopaxi), with a comparable rating. Another option is Canon City High School (rated 6.1/10, 25.0 miles away, in nearby Canon City), a more accessible option. Additionally, Florence Jr./Sr. High School (rated 6.1/10, 26.6 miles away, in nearby Florence), a more accessible option. For more schools in Westcliffe, see our Westcliffe schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 26.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Custer County Elementary School Westcliffe 0.0 mi 6.0
Custer Middle School Westcliffe 0.0 mi 4.9
Crestone Charter School Crestone 16.3 mi 5.8
Cotopaxi Elementary School Cotopaxi 20.7 mi 5.3
Cotopaxi Junior-Senior High School Cotopaxi 20.7 mi 6.7
Lincoln School of Science and Technology Canon City 23.7 mi 7.6
Washington Elementary School Canon City 24.7 mi 4.7
McKinley Elementary School Canon City 24.4 mi 5.5
Canon City Middle School Canon City 24.7 mi 5.6
Canon City High School Canon City 25.0 mi 6.1
Canon Exploratory School Canon City 25.8 mi 7.5
CANON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Canon City 25.7 mi 6.0
FOUR MILE ADVENTIST CHRISTIAN Canon City 26.0 mi
Mount View Core Knowledge Charter School Canon City 26.5 mi 6.3
Harrison School Canon City 26.7 mi 5.8
Fremont Elementary School Florence 25.6 mi 4.4
Florence Jr./Sr. High School Florence 26.6 mi 6.1
Gardner Valley School Gardner 29.1 mi 2.9
Moffat Prek-12 School Moffat 26.3 mi 7.6
Beulah Elementary School Beulah 26.6 mi 3.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 81252 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$70,825

Median Home Value

$362,200

Median Rent

$933/mo

Population

4,413

College Educated

38.4%

Homeownership

87.3%

Poverty Rate

9.6%

Median Age

58.3

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Las Animas High School Las Animas, CO 7.5
Ridgway High School Ridgway, CO 7.5
Soroco High School Oak Creek, CO 7.5
Contemporary Learning Academy Denver, CO 7.7
Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design Denver, CO 7.7
Plateau Valley High School Collbran, CO 7.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Custer County High School

What grades does Custer County High School serve?

Custer County High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Custer County High School?

Custer County High School has an enrollment of approximately 115 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Custer County High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Custer County High School is 11.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Custer County High School rank in CO?

Custer County High School ranks #480 of 1,815 schools in CO.

What is Custer County High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Custer County High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Custer County High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Custer County High School has 38% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).

Is Custer County High School a charter school?

No, Custer County High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Custer County High School a Title I school?

No, Custer County High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Custer County High School?

46.1% of students at Custer County High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
53 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
38 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
115
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
10
Free/Reduced Lunch
46.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Custer County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
38.3%
4-Year Graduation
80%+

District

Custer County School District Consolidate 1
District Enrollment
345
Schools in District
3
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,545
District Rank
#1 of 3

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