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Animas Valley Elementary School

Q: Is Animas Valley Elementary School a good school?

Animas Valley Elementary School ranks 502 nd of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

502^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 946 Colorado Elementary Schools

Better than 47% of Colorado elementary schools

Summary

Animas Valley Elementary School is a small public elementary school in Durango, CO, serving 185 students in grades PK-5 within Durango School District No. 9-R. The school's state ranking has declined over the past decade, falling from the 77th percentile in 2015-2016 to the 47th percentile by 2025-2026. With a student-teacher ratio of just 10.1:1, it is one of the most intimate school settings in the area—only Sunnyside Elementary School has a lower ratio. About 38% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, a rate similar to Park Elementary School.

The school's clearest strength is attendance. Chronic absenteeism stands at just 20.5%, far better than the district average of 29.3% and dramatically lower than Florida Mesa Elementary School (42.6%) or The Juniper School (33.3%). This marks a strong improvement from 26.6% the prior year, meaning students are consistently showing up ready to learn. Animas Valley also has a track record of success with specific student groups—in 2018-2019, low-socioeconomic-status students ranked in the 93rd percentile statewide. Fifth-grade science proficiency (43.8%) exceeds the state average (36.1%) and has climbed steadily over the past three testing cycles.

The challenges center on math and early-grade literacy. Math proficiency has remained below 40% for four consecutive testing years, while ELA proficiency has been volatile, swinging from 51.4% to 39% in recent cycles. Results lag similar schools: Park Elementary School and Riverview Elementary School serve comparable student populations but achieve proficiency rates 20 to 27 points higher in both subjects. Third-grade gaps are especially pronounced, with ELA proficiency at 36.4% versus the district's 54.5%. Since attendance and class size are already strengths, the school has a solid operational foundation—the key is translating those advantages into stronger classroom outcomes.

185

Students ?

10.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$23,709

Per pupil spending ?

37.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

373 Hermosa Meadows Road
Durango, CO 81301

(970) 247-0124

District: Durango School District No. 9-R

Students who attend Animas Valley Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Miller Middle School
High:	Durango High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

58.9%

Hispanic:

31.4%

American Indian:

5.9%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 40th percentile in 2023 → 47th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 47th (2026) from a 40th-percentile low (2023)

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Near the bottom of Durango School District No. 9-R's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school38%

District avg46%

Colorado avg41%

502^nd of 946

Colorado public elementary schools ?

Bottom 47%▼ down 30 pts since 2016

From top 23% (2016) to bottom 47% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 6Elementary Schools in the Durango School District No. 9-R

27^th of 114Durango School District No. 9-R 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	41.8	502 of 946	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	47.5	467 of 950	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.6	420 of 943	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	34.3	563 of 933	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.0	505 of 921	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	50.2	382 of 710	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	63.7	326 of 965	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	55.7	364 of 917	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	61.1	314 of 929	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	73.8	211 of 914	76.9%	★★★★☆
2015	79.2	170 of 938	81.9%	★★★★☆
2014	73.2	245 of 962	74.5%	★★★★☆
2013	59.0	415 of 954	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2012	72.7	246 of 935	73.7%	★★★★☆
2011	80.0	158 of 935	83.1%	★★★★☆
2010	73.7	232 of 925	74.9%	★★★★☆
2009	75.2	203 of 872	76.7%	★★★★☆
2008	77.2	172 of 849	79.7%	★★★★☆
2007	83.9	98 of 852	88.5%	★★★★☆
2006	71.4	241 of 829	70.9%	★★★★☆
2005	74.8	215 of 823	73.9%	★★★★☆
2004	85.3	95 of 808	88.2%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2019	85.7	77 of 758	89.8%	★★★★☆
2018	65.1	206 of 690	70.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2019	83.8	22 of 332	93.4%	★★★★★
2018	56.6	111 of 308	64.0%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2019	54.6	310 of 764	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.8	318 of 693	54.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2019	66.3	171 of 596	71.3%	★★★★☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2019)93rd percentile+27 vs school

Female (2019)90th percentile+24 vs school

White (2019)71st percentile+5 vs school

Male (2019)59th percentile-7 vs school

By subject vs Colorado (2025-2026) ?

Science44%+8 vs state

English Language Arts39%-6 vs state

Math35%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Animas Valley 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
Animas Valley Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	373 Hermosa Meadows Road	Durango	81301	La Plata County	Durango School District No. 9-R	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 247-0124	185	18	10.1	37.8%	109 (58.9%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (31.4%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.8%)	41.8	502^nd of 946 public elementary schools	46.9%		47.5	467^th of 950 public elementary schools	50.8%	35	36.4	40.0	41.2				39.0	36.4	30.0	38.9				35.0	43.8		$23,709
Mountain Middle School	Public, Charter	K-8	108 West 31st Street	Durango	81301	La Plata County	State Charter School Institute	Yes	No	No	No	(970) 828-5600	302	16	18.8		262 (86.8%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (8.6%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.6%)	87.7	101^st of 946 public elementary schools	89.3%		89.6	76^th of 950 public elementary schools	92.0%	25		61.7	73.7	54.7	59.2	68.1	63.5		70.0	72.4	58.5	35.3	79.2	63.3	69.0	54.2	$14,022
Riverview Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2900 Mesa Avenue	Durango	81301	La Plata County	Durango School District No. 9-R	No	No	No	No	(970) 247-3862	374	31	12.0	30.5%	279 (74.6%)	1 (0.3%)	48 (12.8%)	2 (0.5%)	16 (4.3%)	1 (0.3%)	27 (7.2%)	73	231^st of 946 public elementary schools	75.6%		79.3	185^th of 950 public elementary schools	80.5%	46	63.2	61.5	63.2				62.7	69.1	43.1	38.9				49.4	50.7		$19,623
Needham Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2425 West Third Avenue	Durango	81301	La Plata County	Durango School District No. 9-R	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 247-4791	367	32	11.5	42.2%	242 (65.9%)	3 (0.8%)	73 (19.9%)	2 (0.5%)	18 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.9%)	69.4	271^st of 946 public elementary schools	71.4%		48	463^rd of 950 public elementary schools	51.3%	192	63.8	40.0	69.1				57.9	60.4	32.0	54.5				49.0	52.7		$19,117
Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	510 E. 6th Ave.	Durango	81301	La Plata County	Durango School District No. 9-R	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 247-3718	452	36	12.7	38.9%	256 (56.6%)	1 (0.2%)	110 (24.3%)	7 (1.5%)	38 (8.4%)	1 (0.2%)	37 (8.2%)	82.8	156^th of 946 public elementary schools	83.5%		79.7	176^th of 950 public elementary schools	81.5%	20	62.3	58.2	64.4				61.9	61.3	60.0	65.8				62.6	55.4		$19,787
The Juniper School	Public, Charter	K-8	225 Sawyer Dr	Durango	81302	La Plata County	Durango School District No. 9-R	Yes	No	No	No	(970) 764-4185	171	12	14.4	38.6%	136 (79.5%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (16.4%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.9%)	62.4	331^st of 946 public elementary schools	65.0%		60.1	356^th of 950 public elementary schools	62.5%	25	47.8	56.3	50.0				45.3	43.5	62.5	40.9				38.3	45.5		$13,921
Florida Mesa Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	216 Highway 172	Durango	81303	La Plata County	Durango School District No. 9-R	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 247-4250	293	28	10.3	52.6%	164 (56.0%)	0 (0.0%)	81 (27.6%)	3 (1.0%)	27 (9.2%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.1%)	34.2	581^st of 946 public elementary schools	38.6%		35.5	566^th of 950 public elementary schools	40.4%	15	55.0	26.8	47.1				42.6	42.5	23.3	17.6				28.2	11.8		$21,477
Bayfield Intermediate School	Public	3-5	720 E Oak	Bayfield	81122	La Plata County	Bayfield School District No. 10Jt-R	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 884-9571	274	23	11.7	41.2%	195 (71.2%)	1 (0.4%)	52 (19.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.1%)	38.1	540^th of 946 public elementary schools	42.9%		47.4	468^th of 950 public elementary schools	50.7%	72	27.0	45.9	51.9				41.9	25.7	29.1	39.2				31.4	30.4		$00
Bayfield Primary School	Public	PK, KG-2	511 East Mustang Lane	Bayfield	81122	La Plata County	Bayfield School District No. 10Jt-R	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 884-0881	222	20	11.1	42.8%	154 (69.4%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (22.1%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.2%)	1 (0.5%)	11 (5.0%)								(n/a)																	$00
Sunnyside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	75 Cr 218	Durango	81303	La Plata County	Durango School District No. 9-R	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 259-5249	107	11	9.8	50.5%	67 (62.6%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (29.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.9%)	1 (0.9%)	5 (4.7%)								(n/a)							46.9							25.0			$25,867

Frequently Asked Questions about Animas Valley Elementary School

Is Animas Valley Elementary School a good school?

Animas Valley Elementary School ranks 502^nd of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Animas Valley Elementary School?

Students at Animas Valley Elementary School are 59% White, 31% Hispanic, 6% American Indian, 4% Two or more races.

What district is Animas Valley Elementary School in?

Durango School District No. 9-R

What schools do graduates of Animas Valley Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Animas Valley Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Miller Middle School
High : Durango High School

How many students attend Animas Valley Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 185 students attended Animas Valley Elementary 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.