Summary:
Zip code 80421 is served by a single high school, Platte Canyon High School, which enrolls 183 students in grades 9–12 in the Bailey, Colorado area. This small school, part of Platte Canyon School District No. 1, offers a low 12.1 student-teacher ratio and stands out for its strong English Language Arts results, a graduation rate of 90.9% (5 points above the state average), and a district that ranks in the 81st percentile statewide. However, the school’s own state ranking has slipped from the 74th to the 58th percentile over the past two years, despite most test scores still exceeding state averages.
Parents will find that Platte Canyon High School is academically solid in reading and writing: CMAS English Language Arts proficiency is 64.9% versus 44.7% statewide, and PSAT10 reading/writing reaches 74% versus 65% statewide. Math is more mixed, with CMAS math above the state (43.8% vs. 37.3%) but SAT math slightly below (29% vs. 32%). Science proficiency fell from 47.1% to 33.3% year over year, though it remains above the state’s 24.8%. The school’s small size can cause large swings in year-to-year results, so these changes should be interpreted cautiously. Chronic absenteeism is a concern: 26.3% of students miss significant school time, which is higher than the district’s 19.8% but below the state’s 28.4%.
Overall, Platte Canyon High School offers a supportive, small-school environment with strong graduation outcomes and notable reading strengths, but its declining state ranking, mixed math performance, and elevated absenteeism relative to its district are trends worth monitoring. The gap between the high school’s 58th percentile rank and the district’s 81st percentile suggests other district schools may be boosting overall performance. For families, this is a school where individualized attention is likely, but where sustained academic growth will depend on improving math and attendance while continuing to leverage its ELA and graduation successes.
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