South Park High School

South Park High School is a small public high school in Fairplay, Colorado, serving 121 students in grades 9 through 12 as part of Park County School District No. Re-2. This school has a mixed academic profile. It excels in reading and writing, with 71% of 11th graders proficient on the SAT Reading/Writing section, compared to 62% statewide. This is a standout advantage over nearby Lake County High School, where only 42% of students reached that benchmark. However, mathematics is a major struggle, with just 15% proficient versus 32% statewide. This gap appears early, as PSAT9 math scores also lag well behind state averages. Overall, the school ranked in the 45th percentile in 2024-2025.

The news is more encouraging for graduation and dropout rates. The graduation rate rose to 88% in 2024-2025, above the state's 85.6% and far better than Cloud City High School's 55%. The dropout rate has dropped dramatically from 5.4% in 2020-2021 to just 0.8%, now half the state average. Still, chronic absenteeism remains a concern at 34.9%, up from earlier years and above the state's 28.4%. This suggests that while more students are staying in school, regular attendance is still an issue that could undermine progress.

Compared with nearby schools, South Park has the lowest poverty level, with 44.6% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, versus 55.3% at Lake County High School and 80% at Cloud City High School. However, that number has risen sharply in recent years. The student-teacher ratio of 17.8 is the highest among the three, which may impact individual attention. While South Park is the only high school in its district, its strong reading performance and improving persistence metrics are positive signs, but addressing math achievement and absenteeism will be key to future success.