Best Public Schools in Elbert, CO

There are 2 public schools in Elbert, Colorado, serving 277 students across grades PK-12 through the Elbert School District No. 200, a small, rural district where the elementary and junior-senior high schools share similar demographics but post dramatically different academic results.

Elbert Elementary School is the clear standout, ranking in the 64th percentile of Colorado elementary schools and beating the state average in both ELA (55.4% vs. 44.7%) and math (46.2% vs. 37.3%). Its 5th graders are especially strong, with 77.8% proficient in ELA and 66.7% in math, roughly 28 points above state averages. The school also shows steady academic growth from 3rd to 5th grade, and chronic absenteeism (23.8%) sits below the state rate. In contrast, Elbert Junior-Senior High School ranks in the bottom quarter of Colorado high schools (24th percentile, 1 star), with CMAS proficiency of just 8.8% in ELA and 5.2% in math across all grades. Because those tests are only given through 8th grade, the very low scores mainly reflect 6th–8th graders; high-school-level PSAT/SAT reading and writing results are better (39%–60% proficient). The high school does maintain a strong 96.3% graduation rate and a 0.0% dropout rate.

The most striking takeaway is the academic cliff between the two campuses. Despite similar free/reduced-lunch rates (32% vs. 35%) and small class sizes, the proficiency gap is enormous — over 46 points in ELA and 41 points in math. The junior-senior high’s state ranking has also slid from the 40th percentile (2022-2023) to the 24th percentile (2025-2026), dropping to a 1-star rating. Chronic absenteeism affects about one in four students at both schools, though both remain below the state average of 28.4%. The district’s mid-tier 52nd-percentile ranking masks this sharp internal divide; the elementary school is a genuine bright spot while the middle-grade years at the 6-12 campus represent the most urgent opportunity for improvement.