Summary:
Zip code 81211 in Buena Vista, Colorado, is served by four schools in the Buena Vista School District No. R-31, covering grades K-12 with a total enrollment of 865 students. The district holds a 3-star rating and ranks 41st out of 115 Colorado districts, placing it at the 64th percentile. The schools include Avery/Parsons Elementary School (K-5, 383 students), Buena Vista Middle School (6-8, 211 students), Buena Vista High School (9-12, 256 students), and Chaffee County High School (7-12, 15 students).
Among the traditional schools, Buena Vista High School stands out with a 95.5% graduation rate, 73% PSAT 9 reading/writing proficiency, and chronic absenteeism of just 14.0%—about half the state average. Avery/Parsons Elementary School is improving its ranking and shines in 5th grade science, with 50% proficiency versus 36.1% statewide. Buena Vista Middle School also exceeds state levels in 8th grade science (42.2% vs. 35.4%), but its ELA proficiency dropped sharply from 47.8% to 36.6% in one year. By contrast, Chaffee County High School serves a high-need alternative population, with 73.3% free/reduced lunch, 62.5% chronic absenteeism, and a 66.7% graduation rate.
For parents, the district's traditional schools offer notable strengths: chronic absenteeism ranges from 11.1% to 16.9% versus the state's 28.4%, and low student-teacher ratios (10.9 to 13.3) support personalized attention. However, math proficiency lags the state across all schools, while science is a consistent positive outlier. The high school's graduation rate and reading scores are exceptional, but the middle school's recent ELA decline and the challenges at Chaffee County High School are worth watching. Overall, this is a cohesive mid-tier district that serves its traditional students well, though equity gaps remain concentrated in the small alternative program.
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