Summary:
Zip code 81230 is served by three public schools—Gunnison Elementary School (PK–5), Gunnison Middle School (6–8), and Gunnison High School (9–12)—all part of the Gunnison Watershed School District Re1J, with a combined enrollment of 1,284 students. The district earns a 4-star rating and ranks 31st out of 115 Colorado districts, yet each school currently holds a 2-star rating and sits in the lower half of statewide school rankings, a notable disconnect for parents to understand.
Among the three schools, Gunnison High School is the standout. Its SAT Reading and Writing proficiency is 69% versus the 60% state average, and 11th grade science reaches 31.3% versus 24.8% statewide. It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism (21.8%) and a 1.5% dropout rate, matching the state average, though math proficiency is just 22%. Gunnison Middle School is most concerning: chronic absenteeism is 37.5%, roughly 9 points above the state, and math proficiency falls from 37.2% in 6th grade to 21.9% in 8th grade. Gunnison Elementary School has the largest enrollment (560) and the lowest student-teacher ratio (13.2), but trails state averages in every subject, especially 5th grade science at 20.3% versus 36.1% statewide.
Mathematics is the most consistent weakness across all three schools—none meets the state average in all-grades math. Reading and writing performance flips dramatically by high school: elementary and middle school ELA lag the state by roughly 13–17 points, yet high school SAT Reading/Writing beats the state by 9 points. Science follows a similar positive trajectory relative to the state as students progress. With free/reduced lunch eligibility ranging from 40.2% to 45.4%, the schools serve similar, moderately high poverty levels, making cross-school comparisons meaningful. The middle school is the key intervention point, especially around attendance and math, while the high school shows that strong literacy and science outcomes are achievable in this community.
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