Best High Schools in Zip Code 80653

Zip code 80653 contains exactly one high school, Weldon Valley Junior/Senior High School, a very small rural school serving grades 7–12 with just 96 students in Weldona, Colorado. Because this is a single-school area, the school's profile is best understood alongside its district, School District No. Re-20 Weldon Valley, which is essentially the same entity for reporting purposes.

Weldon Valley has clear strengths and some serious challenges. On the positive side, 8th-grade science proficiency in 2024–25 was 63.2%, nearly double the state average of 36.4%. Chronic absenteeism is also excellent at 13.3%, less than half the state's 28.4%, suggesting students are regularly attending school. The school's overall state ranking has improved, from 260th (33rd percentile) in 2017–18 to 137th (59th percentile) in 2025–26. However, the most striking concern is the graduation rate: just 50% for 2023–24, far below the state's 85.6%. In such a small school, this could reflect a tiny cohort, but it still means a large portion of students are not graduating on time. The dropout rate (2.2%) is only slightly above the state rate (1.6%), which makes the low graduation rate even more puzzling.

Academic performance is mixed. In 2024–25, CMAS English language arts (45.5% proficient) and math (36.4%) were near or above state averages, but both dropped in 2025–26, especially math (27.6% vs. 37.3% statewide). A sharp drop appears between 9th and 11th grade: 9th graders were 74% proficient on PSAT9 reading & writing, while 11th graders were just 31% proficient on the SAT — 31 points below the state. Different cohorts and tests explain some of this, but it raises questions about later high school literacy. With only about 16 students per grade, one or two students can swing percentages dramatically, so parents should expect year-to-year volatility. Overall, Weldon Valley is a small, improving school with excellent science and attendance, but families should watch graduation rates and upper-level reading and math performance closely.