Summary
Centennial Middle School in Montrose, CO, serves 540 students in grades 6–8 and is part of the Montrose County School District Re-1J, a district that ranks in the middle of Colorado districts. Overall, Centennial ranks 258th out of 469 Colorado middle schools (45th percentile) and earns a 2-star rating, placing it just above the state’s midpoint and slightly ahead of its closest neighbor, Columbine Middle School (ranked 272nd). About 53% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, and the student-to-teacher ratio is a favorable 14.6.
Centennial’s strongest academic area is English language arts, with 41.5% of students proficient overall—above the district (37.7%) and Columbine (37.4%). The 7th grade ELA rate is especially impressive at 45.5%, compared to just 29.6% at Columbine. However, math is a persistent weakness: only 23.8% of students are proficient, well below the state average of 37.3% and nearly identical to Columbine (23.6%). Sixth grade math is the lowest at 19.8%. In science, Centennial’s 8th graders post 29% proficiency, above the district (27.2%) but below the state (35.4%) and below Columbine (33.3%).
The biggest red flag is chronic absenteeism: 35.2% of students are chronically absent, higher than the district (31.7%), the state (28.4%), and slightly above Columbine (34.6%). This likely holds back achievement, especially in cumulative subjects like math. Another concern is that while the school’s overall rank is average, specific subgroups rank lower—gifted students (26th percentile) and low-income students (30th percentile)—suggesting these learners may not be fully challenged or supported. On a positive note, the dropout rate is low at 1.2%, below both the district and state. Centennial’s ranking has softened from a 64th percentile a decade ago, but for parents, the main takeaways are a strong reading program, particularly in 7th grade, and a clear need for improved math instruction and attendance.
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