Hayden Middle School

Hayden Middle School is a small, rural middle school in Hayden, Colorado, serving just 93 students in grades 6–8 as part of the Hayden School District No. Re 1, which ranks in the 46th percentile of Colorado districts.

The school's academic picture is mixed, with significant challenges in core subjects. On the most recent CMAS tests, only 20.0% of Hayden Middle students met proficiency in English Language Arts and just 9.6% met proficiency in math — far below the state averages of 44.7% and 37.3%, respectively. Math is the biggest red flag: roughly 9 out of 10 Hayden Middle students are not meeting math proficiency standards, a rate less than half that of nearby Craig Middle School (21.5%). ELA proficiency has also fallen sharply, dropping from 40.0% in 2022–23 to 20.0% in 2025–26. However, science is a genuine bright spot: 42.3% of 8th graders are proficient, well above the state average of 35.4% and nearly double Craig Middle's rate of 25.8%.

What makes Hayden's performance especially noteworthy is that the school has clear structural advantages. Chronic absenteeism is just 12.4%, compared to 33.3% at Craig Middle, and only 25.8% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch versus 52.3% at Craig. Class sizes are also smaller, with 11.3 students per teacher. Yet despite these advantages, Hayden posts lower ELA and math scores than Craig Middle. The school's ranking has drifted from the 54th percentile in 2015–16 to the 30th percentile today. With only 93 students, small cohort changes can cause big swings, but the downward trend in core subjects is worth attention. The strong attendance and science results suggest students are engaged and capable — the challenge lies in strengthening math and reading instruction specifically.