Best Public Schools in Zip Code 81428

The 81428 zip code area is home to two elementary schools - Paonia K-8 and North Fork School of Integrated Studies, both serving students in the Delta County Joint District No. 50. Based on the available data, Paonia K-8 emerges as the standout school, consistently ranking in the top 23% of Colorado elementary schools and outperforming the district and state averages on key academic metrics.

Paonia K-8 boasts impressive results, with 64.4% of students proficient or better in CMAS English Language Arts, 70.8% proficient or better in 5th grade science, and 42.9% proficient or better in math across all grades. In contrast, North Fork School of Integrated Studies has more limited data available, but its performance appears to be slightly below that of Paonia K-8, though still above district and state averages in both English Language Arts and Math.

Both schools serve economically disadvantaged student populations, with over 50% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. However, Paonia K-8's strong academic performance, low dropout rate, and relatively small student-teacher ratio of 15.1 suggest that the school is effectively serving its community. The high chronic absenteeism rates at both schools, with over a quarter of students chronically absent, is an area that may require further investigation and targeted interventions.