Summary:
Zip code 81140, serving the La Jara, Colorado area, is home to 4 schools within the North Conejos School District No. Re1J, a district ranked 32nd out of 115 Colorado districts (72nd percentile, 4 stars). The schools span the full education pipeline: Centauri High School (grades 9-12), Centauri Middle School (grades 6-8), La Jara Elementary School (PK-5), and North Conejos Alternative Program (K-12). Total enrollment is 737 students, with roughly 59% qualifying for free/reduced lunch.
La Jara Elementary School is the clear academic standout, especially in math, where all-grade proficiency reaches 53.9% — far above the district's 33.6% and state's 37.3%. Its ELA proficiency of 47.2% also outpaces state averages, and it boasts the lowest chronic absenteeism in the district at 17.5%. Centauri High School excels in graduation outcomes, posting a 96.2% graduation rate and a 0.0% dropout rate — remarkable given that half its students are economically disadvantaged. By contrast, Centauri Middle School is the weakest link, with just 20.8% math proficiency and a ranking that fell from the 57th to 43rd percentile. The small North Conejos Alternative Program (30 students) serves the highest-need population, with a 70% free/reduced lunch rate, 72.7% graduation rate, and 15.2% dropout rate.
Several patterns stand out for parents. Strong elementary achievement fades by middle school, suggesting a transition challenge; conversely, high school outcomes are excellent. Poverty increases as grade level decreases (50.5% free/reduced lunch at high school vs. 65.6% at elementary), and chronic absenteeism rises with grade level (17.5% elementary, 22.6% middle, 26.6% high) — though all schools remain below the state's 28.4% average. The district overall is above average, but attention should focus on reversing the middle-school slump and supporting the alternative program's dropout and graduation challenges.
Thank you for your feedback!