Excellent
#136 of 1,815 schools in CO
Top 7% in state
The Juniper School
Elementary School · Durango School District No. 9-R
PO BOX 655, Durango, CO 81302
Enrollment
169
Student-Teacher
12.1:1
Score
8.4
Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
169
Student-Teacher
12.1:1
Score
8.4
Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Durango
#4 of 14
public schools
Colorado elementary schools
#115 of 1,006
In district
#5 of 13
Durango School District No. 9-R
Academic growth
9.3 / 10
Exceptional
About The Juniper School
The Juniper School is a public elementary school in Durango, CO, part of the Durango School District No. 9-R. The school serves approximately 169 students in grades Kindergarten – 8th with a student-teacher ratio of 12.1:1. 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 31% proficiency in math, 9 points below the state average and 49% in reading/language arts, 4 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.3/10). The school is situated in a distant town setting.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 169 students, The Juniper 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.
The Juniper School is a charter school — a publicly funded school that operates with more autonomy than traditional district schools. Charter schools often have distinct educational models or specialties. Parents should understand the school's specific mission, enrollment process, and how its approach differs from nearby district options.
Score Breakdown
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The Juniper School — Students at The Juniper School score 41% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
37.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CO CMAS (2024-25)
Based on 14 test records from CO state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 9.3/10.
How The Juniper School Compares
See how The Juniper School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 17% (2019) to 32.56% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 47% (2019) to 50% (2025).
Location
PO BOX 655, Durango, CO 81302
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering The Juniper School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Riverview Elementary School (rated 9.1/10, 3.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Park Elementary School (rated 9.0/10, 1.8 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School (rated 9.0/10, 15.0 miles away, in nearby Hesperus), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Durango, see our Durango schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 15.0 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Escalante Middle School Durango | 1.3 mi | 7.3 |
| Park Elementary School Durango | 1.8 mi | 9.0 |
| Southwest Colorado eSchool Durango | 2.1 mi | 6.8 |
| Durango Big Picture High School Durango | 2.3 mi | 8.4 |
| Colorado Connections Academy @ Durango Englewood | 2.3 mi | 5.4 |
| DURANGO MONTESSORI SCHOOL Durango | 2.5 mi | 5.3 |
| CHILDREN'S HOUSE OF DURANGO Durango | 2.8 mi | — |
| ST COLUMBA SCHOOL Durango | 2.9 mi | 5.8 |
| Durango High School Durango | 3.2 mi | 7.6 |
| Needham Elementary School Durango | 3.4 mi | 8.2 |
| Animas High School Durango | 2.9 mi | 6.7 |
| Miller Middle School Durango | 3.6 mi | 7.2 |
| Riverview Elementary School Durango | 3.7 mi | 9.1 |
| Mountain Middle School Durango | 3.9 mi | 7.4 |
| THE LIBERTY SCHOOL Durango | 4.1 mi | 5.9 |
| Florida Mesa Elementary School Durango | 4.6 mi | 6.3 |
| Sunnyside Elementary School Durango | 8.3 mi | 6.0 |
| Animas Valley Elementary School Durango | 11.3 mi | 4.0 |
| COLORADO TIMBERLINE ACADEMY Durango | 14.9 mi | 5.5 |
| Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School Hesperus | 15.0 mi | 9.0 |
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Haxtun Elementary School Haxtun, CO | 8.4 |
| Limon Elementary School Limon, CO | 8.3 |
| RICKS CENTER FOR GIFTED CHILDREN Denver, CO | 8.5 |
| Sangre de Cristo Elementary School Mosca, CO | 8.3 |
| Weldon Valley Elementary School Weldona, CO | 8.5 |
| Flatirons Elementary School Boulder, CO | 8.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about The Juniper School
What grades does The Juniper School serve?
The Juniper School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.
How many students attend The Juniper School?
The Juniper School has an enrollment of approximately 169 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at The Juniper School?
The student-teacher ratio at The Juniper School is 12.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does The Juniper School rank in CO?
The Juniper School is ranked #136 out of 1,815 schools in CO.
What is The Juniper School's MySchoolScout rating?
The Juniper 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 The Juniper School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, The Juniper School has 31.0% math proficiency and 48.7% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is The Juniper School a charter school?
Yes, The Juniper School is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.
Is The Juniper School a Title I school?
No, The Juniper School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for The Juniper School?
37.9% of students at The Juniper 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 8th
- Enrollment
- 169
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 14
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 37.9%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- La Plata County
- Phone
- (970) 764-4185
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Durango School District No. 9-R- District Enrollment
- 5,146
- Schools in District
- 13
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,729
- District Rank
- #5 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 methodologyRelated reading
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