Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 81019

Zip code 81019, which covers Colorado City, Colorado, is home to just one middle school: Craver Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8 with 158 students as part of Pueblo County School District 70. As the only middle school in the area, Craver serves as the sole benchmark for families in this community. The school is located at 4850 Crow Cut Off Road in Colorado City and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 18.8 students per teacher. About 44.3 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Academically, Craver Middle School presents a mixed picture. The school's strongest subject is 8th grade Science, where 41.5 percent of students scored proficient in 2025–2026, outperforming both the district rate of 32.5 percent and the state rate of 35.4 percent. A year earlier, science proficiency was 59.1 percent, a 22-point gap above the state. Eighth grade English Language Arts is also a bright spot, with 51.2 percent proficiency compared to 45.0 percent districtwide and 42.2 percent statewide. In contrast, math proficiency is a persistent weakness; only 23.2 percent of all students met state standards, well below the state average of 37.3 percent. The school earned 3 out of 5 stars in both 2024–2025 and 2025–2026, ranking in the 58th and 54th percentiles respectively, a notable improvement from its 2-star, 45th-percentile showing in 2023–2024.

A significant concern is chronic absenteeism. In 2024–2025, 45 percent of Craver students were chronically absent, far exceeding the district rate of 31.6 percent and the state rate of 28.4 percent. With nearly half of students missing substantial school time, it is not surprising that overall ELA proficiency dropped from 50 percent in 2024–2025 to 39.2 percent in 2025–2026. Science also fell sharply over the same period, from 59.1 percent to 41.5 percent. Despite these challenges, the school's above-median ranking and its improvement in recent years are encouraging signs. However, families should be aware that addressing attendance issues and providing targeted math support will be critical if the school is to sustain and build on its academic gains.