Best High Schools in Zip Code 81122

Zip code 81122 is served by exactly one high school: Bayfield High School, part of the Bayfield School District No. 10Jt-R. This small school enrolls 404 students in grades 9 through 12, with a favorable 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio, and serves a community where 34.4% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school's graduation rate of 85.3% closely mirrors the state average of 85.6%, and its dropout rate of 1.6% is identical to the state figure, indicating students generally stay on track to earn diplomas.

Academically, Bayfield shows a clear split between literacy and math. Underclassmen outperform the state in reading and writing, with 9th graders scoring 69% proficient on PSAT9 and 10th graders scoring 73% on PSAT10, versus state averages of 66% and 65% respectively. However, math proficiency lags at every grade level and the gap widens over time: 9th grade math sits at 34% (state 40%), 10th grade at 24% (state 39%), and 11th grade SAT math plunges to 13% against a 32% state average. Reading proficiency also drops sharply by junior year, falling to 47% on the SAT versus 60% statewide. The most concerning metric on this report is chronic absenteeism: 51.1% of Bayfield students are chronically absent, nearly double the state rate of 28.4% and far higher than the district's 38.5%.

Statewide, Bayfield High School has been a stable but middling performer, ranking 211 out of 338 Colorado high schools in 2025-2026 (38th percentile, 2 stars) — nearly unchanged from 214 out of 328 the prior year. The school has held a 2-star rating for three straight years. Interestingly, the school's test scores and graduation rates are identical to district figures, confirming Bayfield High is the primary high school in its district, though its chronic absenteeism significantly drags down the district average. For parents, this is a school with solid reading fundamentals in early high school, a concerning and progressive decline in math achievement, and an attendance problem that deserves serious attention despite respectable graduation outcomes.