Best Public Schools in Zip Code 81657

Zip code 81657 in Vail, Colorado, is served by exactly one public school: Red Sandstone Elementary School, a PK–5 elementary school with 245 students within the Eagle County School District No. Re 50. Since there are no middle schools, high schools, or alternative schools in the zip code, Red Sandstone serves as the sole public educational anchor in Vail proper, meaning students advancing beyond 5th grade would attend schools outside the zip code within the broader district.

Red Sandstone stands out as a strong academic performer, particularly in English Language Arts and science. In 2025-2026, 65.3% of students were proficient in CMAS ELA — more than 20 points above the state average — and 60.5% of 5th graders were proficient in CMAS Science, roughly double the district rate and well above the state. The school has ranked in the 65th–73rd percentile statewide over the past three years, earning a 4-star rating in 2024-2025. With a 12.9:1 student–teacher ratio, the school is relatively small and well-staffed, which may support strong outcomes. However, math proficiency sits at just 38.8%, only slightly above the state average, and 3rd-grade math is a particular concern at 25.7% proficient. Notably, math performance rises dramatically by grade: 25.7% in 3rd, 34.9% in 4th, and 55.3% in 5th grade.

Chronic absenteeism affects 25.8% of students, which is better than both the district (31.1%) and state (28.4%) averages but still means roughly one in four students misses significant school time. The biggest red flag is a sharp one-year drop in overall math proficiency from 52.5% to 38.8%, even as ELA improved by 10.3 points over the same period. Overall, Red Sandstone Elementary is a consistently above-average school within a district ranked at the state median. Its strong literacy and science outcomes, favorable staffing ratio, and improving state ranking make it a solid choice for families with elementary-age children in Vail, though math — especially in the early grades — deserves close attention.