Summary:
Hayden School District No. Re 1 serves families in the small northwestern Colorado community of Hayden, offering just one middle school option: Hayden Middle School, which enrolls 93 students across grades 6–8.
The bright spots at Hayden Middle School are clear. Science is a standout subject: 42.3% of 8th graders were proficient in 2025–2026, well above the state average of 35.4% and a dramatic jump from just 24.0% the year before. Chronic absenteeism is also a positive, sitting at only 12.4% compared to 21.4% districtwide and 28.4% statewide, while the dropout rate is 0%. The school’s small size creates a tight-knit environment, with a favorable 11.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Its ranking also improved slightly, moving from 351st to 330th out of 469 schools, though it remains in just the 30th percentile and earned a 1-star rating.
However, academic proficiency in core subjects remains a serious concern. ELA proficiency fell from 28.6% to just 20.0% year-over-year, a 24.7-point gap below the state average of 44.7%. Math is the most urgent issue, with only 9.6% of students proficient compared to 37.3% statewide — a 38% drop from the prior year’s 15.5%. Grade-level data suggests 6th and 8th grade math scores are dragging the overall average down, since 7th graders alone reached 20.6% proficiency. With fewer than 1 in 10 students meeting math standards, targeted numeracy intervention, continued literacy support, and sustaining the impressive science momentum will be essential to improving outcomes at this small but dedicated school.
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