Burlington Middle School

Burlington Middle School is a public school in Burlington, Colorado, serving 206 students in grades 5 through 8 as part of the Burlington Public School District No. Re-6j. Located in a rural community on Colorado's eastern plains, the school serves a predominantly low-income population, with roughly 65% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 15.8 to 1.

Academically, Burlington Middle School faces significant challenges. Overall math proficiency sits at just 13.2% compared to 37.3% statewide, with the most urgent concerns in 5th and 6th grade, where fewer than 1 in 10 students meet state standards. Science proficiency in 5th grade is also alarmingly low at 8%, though 8th graders fare considerably better in both subjects. The school's overall state ranking has improved since 2018-2019, when it sat in the 6th percentile; it now holds a 20th percentile ranking. Notably, low-income students are the school's strongest subgroup, ranking in the 41st percentile statewide, which suggests the school is doing something right for its most disadvantaged learners.

Compared to Stratton Middle School, located about 17 miles away, Burlington serves a larger and more economically challenged student body. Stratton has just 54 students and a poverty rate of about 41%. The two schools have traded academic leads in recent years, with Burlington outpacing Stratton in English language arts in 2024-2025 but falling behind in math. On a positive note, Burlington's chronic absenteeism rate of 23.9% is below both district and state averages, and the school has reported no dropouts in recent years, indicating that students are showing up consistently even as the school works to improve academic outcomes.