Avery/Parsons Elementary School

Avery/Parsons Elementary School serves 383 students in grades K–5 in Buena Vista, a small mountain community in central Colorado, and is part of the Buena Vista School District No. R-31. The school has climbed from the bottom fifth of Colorado elementary schools a few years ago to near the middle of the pack today — an upward trajectory that makes it a school worth watching for local families.

Science is a clear bright spot. In the most recent testing year, 50% of 5th graders scored proficient or better on the state science exam, well above the state average of 36.1%. Low-income students also perform notably well, ranking in the 55th percentile statewide for that group, even though roughly 39% of students now qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Chronic absenteeism sits at 16.9%, far better than the state's 28.4%, and the student-teacher ratio of 13.3 to 1 gives teachers room to work with kids individually. English Language Arts proficiency reached 42.1%, slightly above the district's 39.5%.

Math remains the school's biggest challenge, with 30.4% proficiency versus 37.3% statewide — though that rate has nearly doubled since 2022, a promising sign. The most notable equity concern is a persistent gender gap: female students rank in the 54th percentile statewide, while male students land near the bottom quarter. With no other elementary schools within 20 miles, Avery/Parsons effectively serves the entire community's elementary population, and its ability to improve academic outcomes while serving more low-income families in recent years suggests real momentum.