Dolores Middle School

Dolores Middle School is a small public school in Dolores, Colorado, serving 166 students in grades 6–8 as part of the Dolores School District No. Re-4A. The school has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.3:1, meaning smaller class sizes than nearby Mancos Middle School (15.4:1) and Montezuma-Cortez Middle School (14.9:1), which can translate to more individual attention for students.

Like many schools in the region, Dolores faces some challenges. Chronic absenteeism jumped to 30.8% in 2024–2025, matching Mancos Middle School but lower than Montezuma-Cortez Middle School's 38.8%, though it remains above the state average of 28.4%. Academic performance in math and English Language Arts sits below state averages, but Dolores outperforms Montezuma-Cortez Middle School in both subjects (27% vs. 20.9% proficient in ELA; 20% vs. 17.4% proficient in math). The school also serves a growing share of economically disadvantaged students, with free/reduced lunch eligibility rising from 40.6% to 57.2% over the past three years.

There are bright spots worth noting. Eighth-grade ELA proficiency reached 41%, nearly matching the state average of 42.2%, and the school appears to serve low-income students comparatively well relative to statewide peers. Math proficiency is a persistent weakness across all grade levels, with scores well below state averages. Overall, Dolores Middle School is a reasonably well-staffed school with a lower student-teacher ratio than its neighbors, but reducing chronic absenteeism and strengthening math instruction are the key areas to watch moving forward.