Summary:
Zip code 81201 in Salida, Colorado, is served by six schools—two elementary, two middle, and two high schools—enrolling 1,463 students across the Salida School District No. R-32 and the State Charter School Institute. The largest school is Longfellow Elementary School with 449 students, while Horizons Exploratory Academy is the smallest at just 32 students. Options range from traditional public schools to charter and alternative programs, giving families a variety of choices.
Crest Academy stands out as the top academic performer. With math proficiency of 77.2% and ELA proficiency of 78.9%—both far above state averages—it outperforms the much larger Salida Middle School, which posts 60.2% ELA and just 46.3% math proficiency. Crest Academy also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the zip code at 16.7%, compared with 34.6% at Salida Middle School. Longfellow Elementary School is a consistent 4-star school with strong third-to-fourth grade growth, while Salida High School posts an excellent 96.9% graduation rate and a dropout rate well below the state average.
Families should note some challenges. Salida Montessori Charter School shows striking 8th grade results—84.2% ELA and 77.8% math—but its lower elementary scores trail the state. Math is the weakest subject across nearly every school, and chronic absenteeism is a concern at the middle level, especially at Salida Middle School and Salida Montessori Charter School. Horizons Exploratory Academy serves a higher-need population with a 53.1% free/reduced lunch rate and a 71.4% graduation rate, though its low student-teacher ratio suggests intentional support. Overall, the traditional schools in this zip code offer strong options for most families.
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