Best Public Schools in Zip Code 81401

Zip code 81401 in Montrose, Colorado is home to 11 schools in the Montrose County School District Re-1J, serving approximately 4,518 students across elementary, middle, high, and alternative schools in a community where about 54% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

For parents looking at elementary options, Cottonwood Elementary School is the clear standout, ranking in the 69th percentile statewide with ELA proficiency at 53.6%, math at 48.6%, and 5th-grade science at 54.1% — all well above state averages. It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism (21.2%) among traditional schools. By contrast, Johnson Elementary School struggles significantly, with just 24.8% ELA and 15.1% math proficiency. Among middle schools, Centennial Middle School edges out Columbine Middle School in ELA (41.5% vs. 37.4%). Peak Virtual Academy is an unexpected bright spot among alternative schools, boasting a 90% graduation rate, 55.1% ELA proficiency, and low absenteeism.

At the high school level, Montrose High School graduates 92.1% of its students — well above the state average — but its state ranking has slipped from the 62nd to 47th percentile over the past three years. The most serious concerns are at Black Canyon High School (48.9% graduation rate, 88.1% chronic absenteeism) and Vista Charter School (37% graduation rate, 66.7% absenteeism, and a 31.7 student-to-teacher ratio). Math proficiency is a systemic weakness across nearly all schools, and chronic absenteeism runs above state averages. Still, the wide range of outcomes — Cottonwood and Peak Virtual thriving despite similar demographics — shows that strong school-level practices can make a real difference.