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Dolores Elementary School

Q: Is Dolores Elementary School a good school?

Dolores Elementary School ranks 596 th of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

596^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 946 Colorado Elementary Schools

Better than 37% of Colorado elementary schools

Summary

Dolores Elementary School serves 245 students in grades K–5 in the small town of Dolores, Colorado, as part of the Dolores School District Re-4A. Located in Montezuma County, the school is one of several small rural elementary schools serving the communities around Cortez and Mancos. It has earned a consistent 2-star rating in recent years, placing it in the middle tier of Colorado elementary schools after recovering from a 1-star low point about a decade ago.

Academic performance at Dolores Elementary sits below Colorado state averages but above most schools in the immediate area. In the latest testing year, 32.7% of students were proficient in both English Language Arts and math, compared to state averages of 44.7% and 37.3%. The school posted stronger results than Mesa Elementary School (24.2% ELA, 18.8% math) and Kemper Elementary School (29.1% ELA, 27.2% math) in nearby Cortez, while also exceeding its own district averages. However, Lewis-Arriola Elementary School, located less than nine miles away, dramatically outperformed Dolores with 75.9% ELA and 68.5% math proficiency. A notable concern is 5th grade: proficiency falls sharply from earlier grades, with only 22.7% of 5th graders proficient in ELA and 25.0% in math.

Dolores Elementary also faces challenges related to attendance and economic disadvantage. The chronic absenteeism rate is 31.2%, above the state average of 28.4% but below several nearby schools, including Pleasant View Charter School (45.7%) and Children's Kiva Montessori School (32.6%). The share of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch has climbed steadily to 53.9%, and the most recent data shows a concerning drop in performance for low-income students. For parents, Dolores Elementary represents a stable neighborhood school with a dedicated community, but it is one where attendance, rising poverty, and a 5th-grade achievement gap deserve attention.

245

Students ?

13.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,053

Per pupil spending ?

53.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

12th And Hillside
Dolores, CO 81323

(970) 882-4688

District: Dolores School District No. Re-4A

Students who attend Dolores Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Dolores High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

75.9%

Hispanic:

12.7%

American Indian:

6.9%

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Compare Dolores Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 23rd percentile in 2016 → 37th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 14 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Colorado average (32% vs 41% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!English Language Arts scores 12 pts below the Colorado average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school32%

District avg28%

Colorado avg41%

596^th of 946

Colorado public elementary schools ?

Bottom 37%▲ up 14 pts since 2016

From bottom 23% (2016) to bottom 37% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

78^th of 114Dolores School District No. Re-4A 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	32.1	596 of 946	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	37.2	553 of 950	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.4	501 of 943	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.7	557 of 933	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.9	544 of 921	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.3	397 of 710	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.9	519 of 965	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.3	544 of 917	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2017	22.7	710 of 929	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	22.9	700 of 914	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	19.9	750 of 938	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	43.6	564 of 962	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	49.9	519 of 954	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	62.3	368 of 935	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	62.8	375 of 935	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2010	56.4	448 of 925	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	38.1	603 of 872	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2008	53.0	444 of 849	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2007	54.3	436 of 852	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	43.1	506 of 829	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2005	59.6	366 of 823	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2004	52.2	424 of 808	47.5%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	34.0	445 of 694	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.4	435 of 684	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.5	427 of 642	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.4	346 of 595	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.8	444 of 758	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.9	321 of 690	53.5%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	26.9	264 of 322	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	43.8	184 of 337	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.4	211 of 365	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.3	156 of 265	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.5	165 of 332	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.2	161 of 308	47.7%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2025	35.2	430 of 700	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.3	446 of 683	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	24.2	486 of 649	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.5	462 of 594	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	41.6	418 of 764	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.9	458 of 693	33.9%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2023	11.8	497 of 525	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	29.2	243 of 288	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	53.8	262 of 596	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	36.3	213 of 337	36.8%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Male (2025)39th percentile-3 vs school

Female (2025)36th percentile-6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)18th percentile-19 vs school

White (2023)5th percentile-35 vs school

By subject vs Colorado (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts33%-12 vs state

Math33%-5 vs state

Science27%-9 vs state

★

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Schools Near Dolores Elementary 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
Dolores Elementary School	Public	K-5	12th And Hillside	Dolores	81323	Montezuma County	Dolores School District No. Re-4A	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 882-4688	245	18	13.8	53.9%	186 (75.9%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (12.7%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.9%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.5%)	32.1	596^th of 946 public elementary schools	37.0%		37.2	553^rd of 950 public elementary schools	41.8%	43	35.5	43.8	22.7				32.7	38.7	37.5	25.0				32.7	26.7		$14,053
Lewis-Arriola Elementary School	Public	K-5	21434 Road U	Cortez	81321	Montezuma County	Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 882-4494	125	8	15.6	40.8%	96 (76.8%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (13.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (7.2%)								(n/a)			64.0				75.9			750.0				68.5	72.0		$17,099
Children's Kiva Montessori School	Public, Charter	K-8	601 North Mildred	Cortez	81312	Montezuma County	Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1	Yes	No	No	Yes	(970) 564-9377	130	9	14.0	65.4%	68 (52.3%)	1 (0.8%)	24 (18.5%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (20.8%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (7.7%)								(n/a)		42.1		737.0			734.0		710.0		706.0			713.0			$13,156
Kemper Elementary School	Public	K-5	620 East Montezuma	Cortez	81321	Montezuma County	Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 565-3737	339	24	13.9	62.5%	177 (52.2%)	0 (0.0%)	75 (22.1%)	3 (0.9%)	66 (19.5%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (5.3%)	27.3	654^th of 946 public elementary schools	30.9%		19.1	751^st of 950 public elementary schools	20.9%	97	711.0	37.5	742.0				29.1	19.4	31.7	27.1				27.2	22.0		$15,893
Mesa Elementary School	Public	K-5	703 West 7th Street	Cortez	81321	Montezuma County	Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 565-3858	359	27	13.4	76.6%	104 (29.0%)	1 (0.3%)	82 (22.8%)	3 (0.8%)	134 (37.3%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (9.7%)	16.1	801^st of 946 public elementary schools	15.3%		11.2	868^th of 950 public elementary schools	8.6%	67	12.2	17.8	40.0				24.2	20.4	8.9	25.5				18.8	718.0		$15,608
Mancos Elementary School	Public	K-5	301 Grand Avenue	Mancos	81328	Montezuma County	Mancos School District Re-6	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 533-7744	217	18	12.3	37.8%	168 (77.4%)	2 (0.9%)	25 (11.5%)	1 (0.5%)	14 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.2%)								(n/a)							737.0							734.0			$17,171
Pleasant View Charter School	Public, Charter	K-6	15238 County Road Cc	Pleasant View	81331	Montezuma County	Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1	Yes	No	No	Yes	(970) 562-4286	35	3	11.7	54.3%	32 (91.4%)	1 (2.9%)	1 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.9%)								(n/a)							713.0							711.0			$11,670

Frequently Asked Questions about Dolores Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Dolores Elementary School?

Students at Dolores Elementary School are 76% White, 13% Hispanic, 7% American Indian, 4% Two or more races.

How many students attend Dolores Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 245 students attended Dolores Elementary School.

Is Dolores Elementary School a good school?

Dolores Elementary School ranks 596^th of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Dolores Elementary School in?

Dolores School District No. Re-4A

What schools do graduates of Dolores Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Dolores Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Dolores High School

Rate Dolores Elementary School!

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Latest Colorado data All new data »

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

2024–25 attendance dataAug 27, 2025

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.