Best Public Schools in Simla, CO

Simla, Colorado, is served by three public schools—Simla Elementary School (PK–5), Simla Junior High School (6–8), and Simla High School (9–12)—all part of Big Sandy School District No. 100J, a small rural district with just 329 students total. The district ranks 14th out of 115 Colorado districts (88th percentile) with a 4-star rating, and all three schools enjoy low student-teacher ratios around 10:1 and chronic absenteeism rates far below the state average of 28.4%, ranging from 11.2% at the elementary to 14.5% at the junior high.

Simla Elementary School is the district's standout for core academics, beating state proficiency averages by large margins in ELA (57.6% vs. 44.7%), math (54.2% vs. 37.3%), and 5th-grade science (65% vs. 36.1%), while improving its state rank to the 77th percentile. Simla Junior High School is a mixed picture—its 8th graders are outstanding, especially in math (60.9% vs. 37.8%), but 6th and 7th grade math falls below state averages. Simla High School excels in reading and writing, with PSAT 9 and PSAT 10 scores 16 and 13 points above the state, respectively, and a 92.9% graduation rate, but its math scores lag, particularly on the SAT where only 21% were proficient versus 32% statewide.

Notably, the elementary school posts the strongest results despite having the highest free/reduced lunch rate (64.85%), and within that school there is a striking 5th-grade dip in both ELA and math after strong 3rd and 4th grade performance. The junior high's 8th-grade success contrasts sharply with its lower 6th and 7th grade math scores, suggesting either a strong cohort or targeted instruction. The high school's literacy advantage is consistent, but math remains a clear weakness, though recent PSAT 10 math scores improved to 44% vs. 39% statewide. Given the small enrollments (63 junior high, 101 high school), proficiency rates and rankings can swing noticeably from year to year, so parents should view these data as a snapshot rather than a guarantee of future performance.