Schools in Stratton, CO

Stratton, Colorado is served by School District No. R-4, a small three-school district containing Stratton Elementary School (grades PK–5, 101 students), Stratton Middle School (grades 6–8, 54 students), and Stratton Senior High School (grades 9–12, 64 students), for a combined enrollment of 219 students in this small rural community.

Stratton Senior High School is the clear standout in the district. It ranks in the 90th percentile of Colorado high schools (34th of 338) with a 5-star rating, up dramatically from the 54th percentile in 2022–2023. Its PSAT scores far exceed state averages — 71% proficient in math versus 39% statewide, and 79% proficient in reading/writing versus 65% statewide. The high school also reports a 0.0% dropout rate, an 89.5% graduation rate, the lowest poverty rate in the district (25% free/reduced lunch), and the most favorable student–teacher ratio at 9.9. By contrast, Stratton Elementary School ranks in the 29th percentile (1 star), and Stratton Middle School has no recent ranking data.

The middle school is the district's biggest concern, particularly in math, where only 21.7% of students are proficient versus 37.3% statewide — a decline from 24% the prior year. It also has the highest student–teacher ratio (19.0) despite being the smallest school. Stratton Elementary School shows mixed results: its math proficiency (40.8%) exceeds the state average (37.3%), but its ELA proficiency (38.8%) trails the state (44.7%). The elementary school also has a 16.4% chronic absenteeism rate — double the district average. With enrollments this small, a handful of students can shift proficiency percentages and rankings significantly. Overall, the high school is a genuine bright spot, but the feeder schools — especially the middle school — face real challenges that families should carefully consider.