Best High Schools in Stratton, CO

Stratton, Colorado is served by a single public high school — Stratton Senior High School — which enrolls just 64 students in grades 9 through 12 and operates as part of School District No. R-4. Because the district contains only this one high school, the school's performance and the district's performance are identical across most measures, making Stratton Senior High School effectively the entire high school system for this small rural community. While there are no local peers to compare against, the school competes strongly at the state level.

Stratton Senior High School has climbed from the middle of the pack to the top tier of Colorado high schools. In 2022–2023, it ranked 161st out of 349 schools (54th percentile) with a 3-star rating, but by 2024–2025 it rose to 31st out of 328 schools and earned 5 stars, followed by a 34th-place finish out of 338 schools in 2025–2026 with another 5-star rating — placing it in the top 10% statewide. Academically, the school outperforms the state in every tested subject. On the PSAT 10, 71% of students were proficient in math versus 39% statewide, and 79% were proficient in reading and writing versus 65% statewide. Results were similarly strong on PSAT 9, with 65% proficiency in math and 85% in reading and writing, against state averages of 38% and 65%. The school also reports a 0% dropout rate, far better than the 1.6% statewide average, and a graduation rate of 89.5%, above the most recent state figure of 85.6%.

With a 9.9-to-1 student-teacher ratio, class sizes are very small, likely allowing for personalized instruction that contributes to the school's strong scores and perfect dropout record. About 25% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, yet academic performance remains high, indicating that the school supports students across economic backgrounds. The main caveat is the small enrollment of just 64 students, which means year-to-year metrics can swing noticeably; a single cohort can significantly affect rankings and test scores. Still, the consistent pattern of improvement, top-10% rankings, well-above-average test proficiency, and zero dropouts makes Stratton Senior High School a notably strong option for families in the area.