Summary:
Zip code 80743 in rural Colorado is home to just one middle school, Lone Star Middle School, serving grades 7 and 8 within the Lone Star School District No. 101. This tiny school has only 19 students, meaning each grade level averages fewer than 10 students. With a student-teacher ratio of 12.3:1, students experience a highly personalized learning environment that is rare in larger schools. The school also stands out for its zero dropout rate in the 2021–2022 school year, matching the district's zero dropout rate and comparing favorably to the state's 1.6% middle school dropout rate for 2024–2025.
Nearly half of Lone Star's students (47.37%) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a significant share of families with economic need. Despite this, the school has maintained perfect student retention, which suggests strong support systems are in place. The very low enrollment also means the entire middle school may be taught by only one or two full-time teachers, requiring educators to cover multiple subjects and grade levels. For parents, this small-school environment offers the benefit of close relationships and individualized attention, but it may also mean fewer elective options and specialized classes compared to larger schools.
One limitation of the data is that the most recent school-specific dropout rate is from 2021–2022, while the state figure is from 2024–2025, so direct comparisons should be made with caution. Still, a zero dropout rate in a school of this size is meaningful—just one student leaving would equal roughly a 5% dropout rate. Overall, Lone Star Middle School appears to be a stable, supportive rural school with strong retention and a low student-teacher ratio. Parents considering this area can expect a tight-knit academic setting where students are well-known to staff, and where economic challenges do not appear to hinder student persistence.
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