Best Public Schools in Merino, CO

Merino, Colorado, is served by two public schools in School District No. Re-4 Buffalo: Merino Elementary School (grades K–6, 159 students) and Merino Junior Senior High School (grades 7–12, 155 students), for a combined enrollment of 314. The district holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the 83rd percentile statewide (20th of 115 districts), but the two schools present distinctly different strengths and challenges. The elementary school enjoys strong attendance with a 12.3% chronic absenteeism rate, while the junior/senior high school struggles with a 44.6% rate — 3.6 times higher and well above the state average of 28.4%.

Merino Junior Senior High School posts an impressive 92.0% graduation rate versus the state average of 85.6% and a very low 0.6% dropout rate, but academics are mixed. In 2025–2026, 9th graders scored 73% proficient in reading/writing and 58% in math, both above state averages (66% and 40%). By 11th grade, SAT reading/writing fell to 58% (below the state's 60%), and SAT math collapsed to just 15% versus 32% statewide. The high school also carries a slightly higher free/reduced lunch rate (32.26% vs. 26.42%) and a less favorable student-teacher ratio (16.7 vs. 14.4) than the elementary school.

The most urgent issue is the attendance gap. With nearly half of junior/senior high students chronically absent, the steep decline in upper-grade math is unsurprising. The high school improved its state ranking from the 52nd percentile in 2024–2025 to the 64th percentile in 2025–2026, but Merino Elementary School's most recent ranking is more than a decade old, making direct comparisons impossible. Parents should also note that with only 155 students across six grade levels, year-to-year test swings can be dramatic and may not reflect lasting programmatic changes.