Limon Junior-Senior High School

Limon Junior-Senior High School serves 233 students in grades 6 through 12 in the small rural community of Limon, Colorado, and is part of the Limon School District No. Re 4J, which ranks in the top quarter of Colorado districts. The school combines middle and high school grades on one campus, giving families the benefit of a stable, close-knit educational environment from early adolescence through graduation.

This school has real strengths worth celebrating. The graduation rate is an impressive 92.6%, well above the state average of 85.6%, and the school has reported a 0.0% dropout rate in recent years. English Language Arts is a clear bright spot, with 60.4% of students proficient compared to 44.7% statewide, and science scores also beat the state at both 8th and 11th grade levels. However, math is a persistent challenge. Only 36.3% of students are proficient in math, and 7th grade math proficiency sits at just 22.6%. SAT math scores are also concerning, with only 12% of 11th graders proficient versus 32% statewide. The school has also seen its overall state ranking slide from the 86th percentile a decade ago to the 42nd percentile today, largely reflecting the ongoing math struggles.

Compared to nearby Agate Junior Senior High School, about 19 miles away, Limon is the stronger performer across almost every measure. Agate's graduation rate is just 62.5%, and its dropout rate is 7.1%, while Limon graduates nearly all of its students. Limon does have a higher chronic absenteeism rate at 26.3% versus Agate's 13.2%, and a less favorable student-teacher ratio of 14.8 compared to 7.7. Families should also note that female students generally outperform male students academically, which might be worth a conversation with the school. Overall, Limon offers a solid education with a strong literacy focus and excellent graduation outcomes, but parents of students who need extra math support or who struggle with attendance will want to ask how the school plans to address these areas.