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Ross Montessori School

Q: Is Ross Montessori School a good school?

Ross Montessori School ranks 561 st of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades PK, KG-8

561^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 946 Colorado Elementary Schools

Better than 41% of Colorado elementary schools

Summary

Ross Montessori School is a small public charter school in Carbondale, Colorado, serving 183 students in grades PK through 8 and authorized by the State Charter School Institute. The school currently earns a 2-star rating and sits at the 41st percentile of Colorado elementary and middle schools — a notable decline from 2014-15, when it ranked in the 77th percentile with 4 stars. On the positive side, English language arts proficiency (44.1%) is essentially at the state average (44.7%), and Ross outperforms its own authorizer district by a healthy margin in both reading and math.

The biggest red flag for parents is chronic absenteeism. In 2024-25, 41.6% of Ross students were chronically absent, compared to 28.4% statewide — while nearby schools range from 13.9% at Carbondale Community Charter School to 28.8% at Riverview School. Because Ross has a lower poverty rate (38.25% free/reduced lunch) than most neighboring schools, the attendance problem appears to be school-specific rather than demographic. Math proficiency also trails the state (32.1% vs. 37.3%), and science scores have been volatile, dropping to just 23.8% in 2025-26. Ross also has the highest student-teacher ratio in the area at 19.1:1 — far above Two Rivers Community School (12.5:1) and Sopris Elementary (14.9:1) — suggesting larger class sizes and fewer staff resources.

The most useful comparison is Carbondale Community Charter School, located just 1.34 miles away with a nearly identical demographic profile. That school consistently earns 3-4 stars, posts significantly stronger results in every subject (ELA 54.3%, math 42.6%, science 41.2%), and has one-third of Ross's chronic absenteeism rate. Ross Montessori is not a failing school — it matches the state in reading and does well relative to its authorizer — but the combination of extremely high absenteeism, a stretched student-teacher ratio, and inconsistent math and science results has kept it stuck at 2 stars for five straight years. Addressing attendance and adding instructional support would be the highest-leverage steps toward turning the school around.

183

Students ?

19.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

38.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

109 Lewies Lane
Carbondale, CO 81623-1643

(970) 963-7199

District: State Charter School Institute

Racial breakdown:

White:

54.6%

Hispanic:

38.8%

Two or more races:

2.7%

See top rated Colorado elementary schools

Compare Ross Montessori School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 77th percentile in 2015 → 41st in 2026

Worth a look

!Dropout rate above the Colorado average (8% vs 2%)

!High chronic absenteeism (42% vs 28% Colorado)

!Ranking has slipped — down 36 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school37%

District avg31%

Colorado avg40%

Elementary school

561^st of 946

Colorado public elementary schools ?

Bottom 41%▼ down 7 pts since 2017

From bottom 48% (2017) to bottom 41% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

206^th of 476

Colorado public middle schools ?

Top 43%▼ down 29 pts since 2017

From top 14% (2017) to top 43% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

51^st of 114State Charter School Institute among Colorado districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	36.4	561 of 946	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	36.6	562 of 950	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.9	604 of 943	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.4	513 of 933	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	28.2	635 of 921	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.3	513 of 710	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	39.4	548 of 965	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.1	538 of 917	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2017	42.5	485 of 929	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2015	73.3	216 of 938	77.0%	★★★★☆
2014	76.9	209 of 962	78.3%	★★★★☆
2013	78.9	183 of 954	80.8%	★★★★☆
2012	61.7	371 of 935	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	76.7	204 of 935	78.2%	★★★★☆
2010	75.9	201 of 925	78.3%	★★★★☆
2009	62.7	348 of 872	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	61.7	351 of 849	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2007	40.1	561 of 852	34.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2022	30.6	412 of 595	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	23.8	571 of 758	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2022	12.0	545 of 594	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	46.9	369 of 764	51.7%	★★★☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	47.3	206 of 476	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.6	161 of 485	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.2	226 of 480	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.7	243 of 448	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	56.6	137 of 369	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.1	183 of 418	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	80.9	60 of 424	85.8%	★★★★☆
2014	66.3	147 of 461	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	63.7	164 of 454	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2011	88.1	31 of 422	92.7%	★★★★★

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Female (2022)31st percentile~ school

Male (2022)8th percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs Colorado (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts44%~ state avg

Math32%-5 vs state

Science24%-12 vs state

4.2

5 ratings · 4 written reviews

5★4

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, February 9, 2025

Ross Montessori School has provided my child with a wonderful education. He has been at the school since kindergarten and he has grown so much through the years. He has loved his teachers and has always felt cared for and safe. The Montessori model has given him a solid and complete education in all subject areas and more importantly, has instilled in him a love of learning. I highly recommend Ross Montessori School. Close Quote

by a student
Friday, February 7, 2025

This school is fantastic. It follows the Montessori Method and has been around for 20 years they show it! I became a different learner there, and I thank the teachers and administration for my success! Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Every family is unique in their needs but for my three kids Ross is best option in the Roaring Fork Valley and I'm very pleased with where the school is at but also how they are preparing for a brighter future. It's free Montessori education that has individualized learning in multi-age classrooms. We love that school doesn't have the kids on screens during the work day and the teachers are great. Close Quote

by a parent
Sunday, March 14, 2021

This profile needs updating. Close Quote

Schools Near Ross Montessori School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CMAS English Language Arts (2026)							CMAS Math (2026)							CMAS Science (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CMAS English Language Arts 3rd Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 4th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 6th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 7th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 8th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts All Grades	CMAS Math 3rd Grade	CMAS Math 4th Grade	CMAS Math 5th Grade	CMAS Math 6th Grade	CMAS Math 7th Grade	CMAS Math 8th Grade	CMAS Math All Grades	CMAS Science 5th Grade	CMAS Science 8th Grade	Total
Ross Montessori School	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	109 Lewies Lane	Carbondale	81623	Garfield County	State Charter School Institute	Yes	No	No	No	(970) 963-7199	183	10	19.1	38.3%	100 (54.6%)	4 (2.2%)	71 (38.8%)	2 (1.1%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.7%)	36.4	561^st of 946 public elementary schools	40.7%		36.6	562^nd of 950 public elementary schools	40.8%	1		42.1	52.4	26.3	55.6		44.1		31.6	33.3	26.3	33.3		32.1	23.8		$18,822
Crystal River Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	160 Snowmass Drive	Carbondale	81623	Garfield County	Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 384-5620	445	36	12.3	40.9%	239 (53.7%)	0 (0.0%)	200 (44.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.3%)	32.1	598^th of 946 public elementary schools	36.8%		20.6	734^th of 950 public elementary schools	22.7%	136	23.1	42.9					33.3	26.9	36.9					32.1			$21,462
Carbondale Community Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	1505 Satank Road	Carbondale	81623	Garfield County	Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1	Yes	No	No	No	(970) 963-9647	143	13	10.9	37.1%	97 (67.8%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (30.1%)	2 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	57.3	383^rd of 946 public elementary schools	59.5%		77.7	203^rd of 950 public elementary schools	78.6%	180		44.4	82.4	37.5			54.3		38.9	35.3	43.8			42.6	41.2		$17,897
Riverview School	Public	PK, KG-8	228 Flying M Road	Glenwood Springs	81601	Garfield County	Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 510-0252	383	28	13.5	71.8%	43 (11.2%)	1 (0.3%)	334 (87.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.0%)	19.2	754^th of 946 public elementary schools	20.3%		24.5	671^st of 950 public elementary schools	29.4%	83	721.0	23.1	28.6	23.7	733.0	724.0	26.1	733.0	16.2	21.4	26.3	25.7	724.0	23.7	17.9	719.0	$22,625
Sopris Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1150 Mount Sopris Drive	Glenwood Springs	81602	Garfield County	Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 384-5400	392	26	14.9	42.6%	210 (53.6%)	0 (0.0%)	167 (42.6%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	12 (3.1%)	57.2	385^th of 946 public elementary schools	59.3%		50.2	441^st of 950 public elementary schools	53.6%	56	38.5	43.3	50.8				44.4	46.2	56.9	41.4				48.6	42.4		$21,920
Basalt Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	151 East Cottonwood Drive	Basalt	81621	Eagle County	Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 384-5800	539	39	13.8	46.2%	211 (39.1%)	0 (0.0%)	317 (58.8%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.7%)	50.6	430^th of 946 public elementary schools	54.5%		48.1	460^th of 950 public elementary schools	51.6%	30	58.2	47.8					52.9	42.9	28.7					35.2			$20,972
Glenwood Springs Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	915 School Street	Glenwood Springs	81602	Garfield County	Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 384-5450	452	41	10.9	63.7%	118 (26.1%)	0 (0.0%)	330 (73.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	21.7	719^th of 946 public elementary schools	24.0%		23.3	691^st of 950 public elementary schools	27.3%	28	27.1	27.1	32.4				28.8	28.8	24.4	28.2				26.9	16.9		$22,394
Two Rivers Community School	Public, Charter	K-8	195 Center Drive	Glenwood Springs	81602	Garfield County	Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(970) 384-4488	390	31	12.5	30.3%	235 (60.3%)	2 (0.5%)	135 (34.6%)	2 (0.5%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.3%)	44.8	474^th of 946 public elementary schools	49.9%		35.2	571^st of 950 public elementary schools	39.9%	97	45.5	40.0	55.8	25.6	40.0	52.9	42.9	40.9	33.3	41.9	718.0	730.0	38.2	29.9	29.3	48.5	$16,884

Frequently Asked Questions about Ross Montessori School

Is Ross Montessori School a good school?

Ross Montessori School ranks 561^st of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Ross Montessori School?

Students at Ross Montessori School are 55% White, 39% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% African American, 1% Asian.

What district is Ross Montessori School in?

State Charter School Institute

How many students attend Ross Montessori School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 183 students attended Ross Montessori School.

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Latest Colorado data All new data »

2025–26 attendance dataNewOct 6, 2026

2025–26 CMAS, PSAT10, PSAT9 & SAT test scoresAug 19, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJan 13, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Colorado Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.