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Excellent

#245 of 1,815 schools in CO

Top 13% in state

Lewis-arriola Elementary School

Elementary School · Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1

21434 ROAD U, Cortez, CO 81321

Enrollment

120

Student-Teacher

15:1

Score

8.2

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Colorado schools

#245 of 1,815

In Cortez

#1 of 9

public schools

In district

#1 of 10

Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1

Equity

9.6 / 10

Excellent

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Lewis-arriola Elementary School

8.2/10

Elementary School in Cortez · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Beech Street Preschool

3.4/10

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

Lighthouse Christian Academy

5.9/10

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

About Lewis-arriola Elementary School

Lewis-arriola Elementary School is a public elementary school in Cortez, CO, part of Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1. Lewis-arriola Elementary School serves approximately 120 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 15:1 student-teacher ratio.

Lewis-arriola Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 out of 10 and ranks #245 of 1,815 schools in CO. Structured state assessment records for Lewis-arriola Elementary School show 50% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 56% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

What's said publicly about Lewis-arriola Elementary School

Sources: School's website

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

Lewis-Arriola Elementary School is part of the M-CSD RE-1 district. The school operates on a Monday-Thursday schedule from 7:45 AM to 3:25 PM, with no classes held on Fridays 1 . The 2022-23 school year ended on May 21, which also featured a graduation ceremony at Panther Field from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM 1 . The school provides Family Support Services and a Temp Online Learning Center 1 . Administrative updates include a District Accountability Committee meeting scheduled for May 4 and a Board of Education Work Session on May 5 1 . A Native Parent Advisory Committee meeting was held on May 12 1 . The school published a Student Handbook on September 25, 2023, and a Breakfast/Lunch Menu on August 13, 2023 1 . Additional resources include information on grievance procedures, student registration, and meal payments via MySchool Bucks 1 . The district website notes that phones were down on June 9, 2025, due to a power outage 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. lewis.cortez.k12.co.us
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy
How it compares2.5 pts above district
  • This school 8.2 · Excellent
  • District avg 5.7
  • CO avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

At 120 students, Lewis-arriola Elementary 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.

Lewis-arriola Elementary 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.

33% of students at Lewis-arriola Elementary 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 · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.2Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-2.4 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics9.4Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency51.7% (2025 CMAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency72.9% (2025 CMAS)
Math vs. State Avg+15.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+28 pts
Overall Proficiency62% (2025 CMAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)42% (model expectation from 2025 CMAS)
vs. Expected+20.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile91th
Resources & Environment6.5Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,684
Chronic Absenteeism32.5%

Lewis-arriola Elementary School — Students at Lewis-arriola Elementary School score 62% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 42%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

40.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CO CMAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 49.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
39.3% (2025 CMAS)
ELA Proficiency 56.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
44.9% (2025 CMAS)

Based on 33 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
92%
ELA
92%
2010
Math
97.5%
ELA
92%
2011
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2012
Math
67%
ELA
67%
2013
Math
52%
ELA
57%
2014
Math
10%
ELA
30%
2015
Math
24.5%
ELA
15%
2016
Math
24.5%
ELA
24.5%
2017
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2018
Math
44.5%
ELA
44.5%
2019
Math
44.5%
ELA
44.5%
2020*
Math
30%
ELA
44.5%
2021*
Math
30%
ELA
44.5%
2022
Math
44.5%
2025
Math
61.1%
ELA
73%

* 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: 8.2/10.

How Lewis-arriola Elementary School Compares

See how Lewis-arriola Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.2/10
87th percentile in CO
Academic
9.4/10
Excellent
Growth
8.2/10
Excellent
Environment
6.5/10
Average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
41%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
8 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
32.5%

Location

21434 ROAD U, Cortez, CO 81321

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Lewis-arriola Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Children's Kiva Montessori School (rated 7.6/10, 9.2 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is Kemper Elementary School (rated 5.5/10, 9.4 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, Dolores Elementary School (rated 5.5/10, 8.9 miles away, in nearby Dolores), a more accessible option. For more schools in Cortez, see our Cortez schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 21.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Beech Street Preschool Cortez 9.0 mi 3.4
LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Cortez 8.5 mi 5.9
Montezuma-Cortez Middle School Cortez 9.3 mi 5.0
CORTEZ ADVENTIST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Cortez 9.4 mi
Children's Kiva Montessori School Cortez 9.2 mi 7.6
Kemper Elementary School Cortez 9.4 mi 5.5
Mesa Elementary School Cortez 9.6 mi 3.7
Southwest Open Charter School Cortez 9.8 mi 5.8
Montezuma-Cortez High School Cortez 10.2 mi 5.5
Dolores Elementary School Dolores 8.9 mi 5.5
Pleasant View Charter School Pleasant View 10.2 mi 3.9
Dolores High School Dolores 9.0 mi 3.9
Dolores Middle School Dolores 9.0 mi 7.3
Teddy Bear Preschool Dolores 9.1 mi 3.7
Battle Rock Charter School Cortez 13.7 mi 5.2
Kwiyagat Community Academy Tawoac 19.2 mi 4.0
Mancos Middle School Mancos 21.8 mi 3.4
Mancos High School Mancos 21.8 mi 6.3
Dove Creek High School Dove Creek 24.5 mi 5.4
Mancos Elementary School Mancos 21.9 mi 3.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 81321 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$59,737

Median Home Value

$259,500

Median Rent

$1,010/mo

Population

14,278

College Educated

27.6%

Homeownership

71.4%

Poverty Rate

11.9%

Median Age

42.7

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
MONTESSORI ACADEMY OF COLORADO Denver, CO 8.2
North Fork School of Integrated Studies Paonia, CO 8.2
Coal Creek Canyon K-8 Elementary School Golden, CO 8.1
Salida Montessori Charter School Salida, CO 8.3
New Emerson School at Columbus Grand Junction, CO 8.0
Telluride Elementary School Telluride, CO 8.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Lewis-arriola Elementary School

What grades does Lewis-arriola Elementary School serve?

Lewis-arriola Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Lewis-arriola Elementary School?

Lewis-arriola Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 120 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Lewis-arriola Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Lewis-arriola Elementary School is 15:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Lewis-arriola Elementary School rank in CO?

Lewis-arriola Elementary School ranks #245 of 1,815 schools in CO.

What is Lewis-arriola Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Lewis-arriola Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 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 Lewis-arriola Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Lewis-arriola Elementary School has 50% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 56% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Lewis-arriola Elementary School a charter school?

No, Lewis-arriola Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Lewis-arriola Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Lewis-arriola Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Lewis-arriola Elementary School?

40.8% of students at Lewis-arriola Elementary 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
5 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
21 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
120
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
Teachers (FTE)
8
Free/Reduced Lunch
40.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Montezuma County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
32.5%

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