Best Public Schools in Cheyenne Wells, CO

Cheyenne Wells, Colorado, is a small rural town served by the Cheyenne County School District No. Re-5, which operates just two schools: Cheyenne Wells Elementary School (PK–6) and Cheyenne Wells Junior/High School (7–12). With a combined enrollment of about 174 students and no standalone middle school, this is an exceptionally tight-knit district where every grade level averages only 11–14 students.

Both schools share the district’s impressive 4-star rating and 74th-percentile state ranking, but each has distinct strengths. Cheyenne Wells Elementary stands out for its remarkable 8:1 student-teacher ratio and chronic absenteeism of just 7.4%, far below the state’s 28.4% average—even though 53% of its students qualify for free/reduced lunch. Cheyenne Wells Junior/High School excels in English/Language Arts, with 83% of 9th graders proficient in Reading and Writing versus 66% statewide, and boasts a 92.3% graduation rate. However, math proficiency is a clear weakness: only 22% of 9th graders are proficient in math, compared to the state’s 40%.

For parents, the biggest takeaway is that this small district delivers strong attendance, literacy, and graduation outcomes despite high poverty rates. The secondary school’s 61-point gap between reading and math proficiency is the most urgent concern, likely pointing to a need for targeted math support and curriculum review. The junior/high school also has a slightly elevated dropout rate (2.4% versus 1.6% statewide). Still, with tiny class sizes, a supportive community, and a district ranked 30th out of 115 in Colorado, Cheyenne Wells offers a safe, personalized learning environment. The elementary school, in particular, provides exceptional individual attention that many larger districts cannot match.