Summary:
Zip code 81101 contains just one middle school, Ortega Middle School in Alamosa, Colorado, which serves grades 6 through 8 and enrolls 471 students as part of the Alamosa School District No. Re-11J.
Academically, Ortega Middle School struggles significantly in math: only 9.6% of 6th graders were proficient on the most recent CMAS math test, compared to 32.7% statewide. ELA proficiency was higher at 25.7% but still well below the state average of 41.6%. Both subjects showed improvement over the previous year (math rose from 5.6% and ELA from 20.3%), but the gaps remain large. The school has consistently ranked in the lower half of Colorado middle schools, earning 2 stars in the last available rankings from 2020–2021, 2013–2014, and 2012–2013. No more recent ranking data is available.
On a more positive note, chronic absenteeism at Ortega is 22.9%, which is below the district’s 24.7% and the state’s 28.4%. The student-to-teacher ratio is a favorable 14.2, and the dropout rate is just 1.2%. However, 78.56% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, indicating a high level of economic need. This context is important for understanding the school’s test scores. Overall, Ortega Middle School is making small academic gains but still has a long way to go, especially in math. Targeted instructional support and continued attention to student needs will be essential for improvement.
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