Hayden High School

Hayden High School is a small, rural high school in Hayden, Colorado, serving 119 students in grades 9–12 as part of the Hayden School District RE-1. The school has improved its statewide standing significantly, moving from the 29th percentile (1 star) the prior year to the 46th percentile (2 stars) for 2025–2026, ranking 183rd out of 338 Colorado high schools.

Compared with nearby Moffat County High School, Hayden comes out ahead on several key measures. Hayden’s graduation rate is 90.9%, above Moffat County’s 89.9% and the state average of 85.6%, while its dropout rate is just 0.7% versus 2.0% at Moffat County. Chronic absenteeism is a concern at 33.6%, but that is far better than Moffat County’s 49.3% (the state rate is 28.4%). Hayden also outperforms Moffat County in 11th-grade SAT reading/writing (65% vs. 45%), 11th-grade science (23.1% vs. 20%), and 10th-grade reading/writing (62% vs. 57%), while math proficiency is nearly identical (27% vs. 28%).

Despite these strengths, math remains a persistent weakness at Hayden, with proficiency rates consistently below state averages across grades and years. A dramatic jump in 11th-grade reading/writing proficiency — from 36% to 65% in one year — is encouraging but should be viewed cautiously given the small student body, where a single strong cohort can shift results sharply. The school also serves a growing share of economically disadvantaged students, with free/reduced lunch eligibility rising from 24% to 39% in three years, which may be linked to rising absenteeism. Subgroup performance varies, with some student groups ranking well below the school’s overall percentile, a pattern worth monitoring. Overall, Hayden offers strong graduation and dropout prevention, recent gains in reading/writing, and a more favorable standing than its nearby comparison school, but math support and attendance will be key areas to watch.