Summary:
Zip code 81323 in Dolores, Colorado is served by three public schools — Dolores Elementary School (K-5), Dolores Middle School (6-8), and Dolores High School (9-12) — all part of Dolores School District No. Re-4A, a small rural district of about 597 students that is rated 2 stars and ranks in the lower third of Colorado districts.
Dolores Elementary School is the academic anchor of the district, with 32.7% proficiency in both ELA and math, significantly outpacing Dolores Middle School's 27.0% ELA and 20.0% math proficiency. The elementary school's 4th grade ELA score of 43.8% is the highest single grade-level score in the district. Dolores High School shows a stark split: 10th grade PSAT Reading/Writing proficiency of 77% beats the state average of 65%, and 11th grade science outperformed the state both recorded years, but only 12% of 11th graders are proficient in SAT Math versus 32% statewide — a 20-point gap. The high school does have the lowest dropout rate at 0.9%, well below the state's 1.6%.
The most pressing district-wide concern is chronic absenteeism, which exceeds the state average of 28.4% at every school, with Dolores High School worst at 38.2%. Notably, Dolores Middle School has the highest poverty rate (57.23% free/reduced lunch) yet the lowest absenteeism, while the high school has the lowest poverty but highest absenteeism — suggesting engagement and school climate matter as much as income. All three schools saw their state percentile rankings decline in the most recent year, and the middle school's 6th grade math proficiency of just 16.3% is the lowest subject score in the district. For parents, the picture is mixed: strong elementary literacy and select high school bright spots, but a system that struggles with math, attendance, and the transition to middle school.
Thank you for your feedback!