Nucla Elementary School

Naturita Elementary School is a public elementary school in Naturita, Colorado, serving grades PK-6 with a total enrollment of 162 students. The school is part of the West End School District No. Re-2. While the school has had a mixed performance history, with its statewide ranking fluctuating over the years, it currently holds a 2-out-of-5 SchoolDigger star rating.

One of the key challenges facing Naturita Elementary School is its high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 27.7% to 39.9% over the past three school years, significantly higher than the state average. Additionally, the school's academic performance, as measured by CMAS test scores, is generally below the state and district averages across various subjects and grade levels. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts (31.1%) and Math (27%) were significantly lower than the state averages of 44.8% and 35.9%, respectively.

Another notable factor is the school's high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 56.49% to 56.79% over the past three school years, suggesting a relatively high proportion of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. While the school's student-teacher ratio is relatively low, ranging from 16.5 to 18.1 over the past three years, this has not translated into improved academic performance. Addressing the root causes of the school's challenges, such as chronic absenteeism and the needs of its economically disadvantaged student population, could be crucial in improving the overall educational experience for the students of Naturita Elementary School.