Summary
Lake County Intermediate School serves 259 students in grades 3–6 in Leadville, Colorado, as part of the Lake County School District No. R-1. The school has consistently ranked in the bottom quartile of Colorado elementary schools over the past decade, currently sitting at 796 out of 943 schools with a 1-star rating. Academic proficiency rates are far below state averages: in 2025–2026, only 25.5% of students were proficient in English Language Arts versus 44.7% statewide, and math proficiency was 15.7% versus 37.3% statewide. Fifth-grade science proficiency reached 21.9%, compared to 36.1% statewide.
Despite these academic challenges, the school posts some notable bright spots. Chronic absenteeism is a clear strength at 13.2% in 2024–2025, far below the district rate of 25.7%, the state rate of 28.4%, and the 30.8% rate at nearby Edith Teter Elementary School. The school also maintains a comparatively low student-teacher ratio of 14.3:1, better than Lake County Elementary School's 19.8:1 and Edith Teter's 22.5:1. However, the student population has shifted significantly, with free/reduced lunch eligibility rising to 66.8% in 2024–2025 from 52.3% two years earlier—a much higher rate than either nearby school. Despite its staffing and attendance advantages, the school trails Edith Teter in most subjects, including a particularly large gap in science (13.1% versus 31.3%).
Encouragingly, the school is improving from a low base: science proficiency has climbed steadily from 5.1% in 2023–2024 to 21.9% in 2025–2026, and its overall state percentile improved from 11th to 16th. However, achievement is uneven across grades and subjects. Fourth-grade math is an extreme concern, with only 6.3% proficient versus 39.0% statewide, while 5th grade was the relative bright spot at 31.3% in ELA and 21.3% in math. All student subgroups—female, male, Hispanic, White, and low-income—currently rank in the bottom quintile statewide, with White students' ranking falling sharply from the 57th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 11th in 2025–2026. Because Lake County Intermediate is essentially the only tested school in its district for grades 3–6, improving outcomes here would have an outsized effect on the district's overall ranking.
Thank you for your feedback!