Best Public Schools in Zip Code 80440

ZIP code 80440 in Fairplay, Colorado is served by three public schools — Edith Teter Elementary School (PK–5), South Park Middle School (6–8), and South Park High School (9–12) — all part of Park County School District No. Re-2 and sharing a single campus, with a combined enrollment of 398 students. This rural PK–12 campus model allows smooth transitions between grades, though small enrollments (87–190) can limit course offerings and staffing.

South Park Middle School is the clear standout, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 62nd percentile of Colorado middle schools. Its ELA proficiency rate of 46.8% exceeds the state average (44.7%) and its math rate of 31.6% outpaces the district average (24.7%). It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (24.5%) of the three schools. South Park High School shines in reading and writing, with 71% proficient on the SAT Reading & Writing section versus a 62% state average, and it posts an 88% graduation rate with a 0.8% dropout rate. However, only 15% of its students are proficient in SAT math, far below the state rate of 32%, creating a striking 56-point subject gap. Edith Teter Elementary School is the greatest concern: ELA proficiency sits at just 22.7% and math at 22.4%, both well below district and state averages, while chronic absenteeism reaches 30.8% and the student–teacher ratio is the district's highest at 22.5.

Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide challenge, affecting 24.5% of middle schoolers, 30.8% of elementary students, and 34.9% of high schoolers. Economic disadvantage is also widespread, with roughly 42–48% of students across the three schools qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Despite these hurdles, South Park High School improved from the 32nd to the 45th percentile in state rankings between 2022–2023 and 2024–2025, and South Park Middle School proves that strong performance is achievable in this community. Families should weigh the middle school's solid academics and the high school's strong literacy and graduation outcomes against the elementary school's struggles and the persistent math and attendance challenges across all grade levels.