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Excellent

#135 of 1,815 schools in CO

Top 7% in state

Durango Big Picture High School

High School · Durango School District No. 9-R

150 TECH CENTER DR, Durango, CO 81301

Enrollment

91

Student-Teacher

10.1:1

Score

8.4

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Durango

#3 of 14

public schools

Colorado high schools

#14 of 403

In district

#4 of 13

Durango School District No. 9-R

Academic growth

10.0 / 10

Exceptional

About Durango Big Picture High School

Durango Big Picture High School is a public high school in Durango, CO, part of the Durango School District No. 9-R. The school serves approximately 91 students in grades 9th – 12th with a student-teacher ratio of 10.1:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.4/10, placing it in the 92.6th percentile among CO schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 20% proficiency in math and 53% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in student growth (10.0/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $83,209, where 58% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a distant town setting.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 91 students, Durango Big Picture High School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress10.0Exceptional25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+13.86 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendImproving
Academics8.7Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency25%
Reading/ELA Proficiency75%
Overall Proficiency50%
Expected (poverty-adj.)32%
vs. Expected+18.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile80th
College Readiness6.6Above Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment8.6Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,863

Durango Big Picture High School — Students at Durango Big Picture High School score 50% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 32%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

60.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CO EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 20.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 52.5%
School
State
N/A

Based on 5 test records from CO state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

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

2019
Math
10%
ELA
30%
2021*
Math
25%
ELA
75%
2022
Math
25%

* 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: 10.0/10.

How Durango Big Picture High School Compares

See how Durango Big Picture High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.4/10
93th percentile in CO
Academic
8.7/10
8.7/10
Growth
10.0/10
Above average
Environment
8.6/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
60%
Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
9 teachers

Location

150 TECH CENTER DR, Durango, CO 81301

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Durango Big Picture High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Durango High School (rated 7.6/10, 1.6 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is Southwest Colorado eSchool (rated 6.8/10, 0.5 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, Animas High School (rated 6.7/10, 1.4 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Durango, see our Durango schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 15.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Colorado Connections Academy @ Durango Englewood 0.0 mi 5.4
Southwest Colorado eSchool Durango 0.5 mi 6.8
CHILDREN'S HOUSE OF DURANGO Durango 1.0 mi
DURANGO MONTESSORI SCHOOL Durango 0.9 mi 5.3
Park Elementary School Durango 1.1 mi 9.0
ST COLUMBA SCHOOL Durango 1.2 mi 5.8
Needham Elementary School Durango 1.5 mi 8.2
Animas High School Durango 1.4 mi 6.7
Durango High School Durango 1.6 mi 7.6
Miller Middle School Durango 1.7 mi 7.2
THE LIBERTY SCHOOL Durango 2.1 mi 5.9
Mountain Middle School Durango 2.2 mi 7.4
The Juniper School Durango 2.3 mi 8.4
Riverview Elementary School Durango 2.2 mi 9.1
Escalante Middle School Durango 3.5 mi 7.3
Florida Mesa Elementary School Durango 6.3 mi 6.3
Animas Valley Elementary School Durango 9.5 mi 4.0
Sunnyside Elementary School Durango 10.5 mi 6.0
COLORADO TIMBERLINE ACADEMY Durango 13.2 mi 5.5
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School Hesperus 15.3 mi 9.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 81301 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$83,209

Median Home Value

$634,900

Median Rent

$1,433/mo

Population

29,892

College Educated

57.8%

Homeownership

65.3%

Avg Commute

17.1 min

Poverty Rate

14.5%

Median Age

41.8

Community Profile

The community surrounding Durango Big Picture High School has a median household income of $83,209. It is a well-educated community where 58% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $634,900, with a median rent of $1,433/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.5%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 17 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Delta High School Denver, CO 8.4
Idalia Junior-Senior High School Idalia, CO 8.5
Plateau Valley High School Collbran, CO 8.3
Simla High School Simla, CO 8.3
Stratton Senior High School Stratton, CO 8.3
St. Vrain Virtual High School Longmont, CO 8.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Durango Big Picture High School

What grades does Durango Big Picture High School serve?

Durango Big Picture High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Durango Big Picture High School?

Durango Big Picture High School has an enrollment of approximately 91 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Durango Big Picture High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Durango Big Picture High School is 10.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Durango Big Picture High School rank in CO?

Durango Big Picture High School is ranked #135 out of 1,815 schools in CO.

What is Durango Big Picture High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Durango Big Picture High School has a composite rating of 8.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Durango Big Picture High School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Durango Big Picture High School has 20.0% math proficiency and 52.5% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Durango Big Picture High School a charter school?

No, Durango Big Picture High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Durango Big Picture High School a Title I school?

No, Durango Big Picture High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Durango Big Picture High School?

60.4% of students at Durango Big Picture 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
34 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
38 Somewhat Bikeable
County Safety
Average (283/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
91
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
9
Free/Reduced Lunch
60.4%
Type
alternative
Setting
Distant Town
County
La Plata County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Durango School District No. 9-R
District Enrollment
5,146
Schools in District
13
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,729
District Rank
#4 of 13

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

Related reading

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