Chaffee County Schools & Education
Chaffee County, Colorado
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
37/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
82.7%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
82.7%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 83.1%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,720
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,447
School Score
37/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 36/100
State Score Position
#27
of 63 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Chaffee County
Measured School Summary
Chaffee County faces educational challenges with a school score of 37/100 and a graduation rate of 82.7%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $7,720 per pupil, Chaffee County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 2% above the Colorado average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Chaffee County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
12 public schools and 2 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
37/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #27 of 63 Colorado counties with school score data.
Completion
82.7%
0.4 pts below the state average
Funding context
$7,720
$273 above the state average
School coverage
12
2 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Chaffee County has 12 public schools across 2 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Chaffee County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Review-carefully county
Chaffee County has a lower measured county-level school signal. Use the school table to look for specific districts or grade bands that may differ from the county average.
State position
#27
of 63 Colorado counties with school score data. The county score is roughly in line with the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Salida School District No. R-32
Elementary to high school visible
1,327 students
6 listed schools in this county slice.
Buena Vista School District No. R-31
Elementary to high school visible
1,032 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Salida School District No. R-32 is the largest listed district slice, with 6 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Chaffee County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Chaffee County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Chaffee County, Colorado
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Educational Access in the Heart of the Rockies
Chaffee County provides 12 public schools for 2,487 students, spread across two districts. This mountain community features a balanced mix of 3 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools.
Salida and Buena Vista District Focus
Salida School District R-32 is the largest with 6 schools and 1,327 students. One charter school exists within the county, providing an alternative to the traditional public school structure.
Town-Based Schools with Community Character
Ten of the county's schools are located in town settings, with an average size of 207 students. Longfellow Elementary is the largest school, creating a central hub for Salida's 455 youngest learners.
School Overview
Total Schools
12
in Chaffee County
Reported Enrollment
2,487
12 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
1
8% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Chaffee County
Salida School District No. R-32
Buena Vista School District No. R-31
12 Public Schools in Chaffee County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 12 of 12 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longfellow Elementary School | Record | Salida School District No. R-32 | SALIDA, 81201Town: Remote | KG–4 | Primary | 455 |
| Avery/Parsons Elementary School | Record | Buena Vista School District No. R-31 | BUENA VISTA, 81211Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 435 |
| Salida High School | Record | Salida School District No. R-32 | SALIDA, 81201Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 394 |
| Salida Middle School | Record | Salida School District No. R-32 | SALIDA, 81201Town: Remote | 5–8 | Middle | 315 |
| Buena Vista High School | Record | Buena Vista School District No. R-31 | BUENA VISTA, 81211Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 274 |
| Buena Vista Middle School | Record | Buena Vista School District No. R-31 | BUENA VISTA, 81211Town: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 222 |
| Salida Montessori Charter School | Record | State Charter School Institute | SALIDA, 81201Town: Remote | PK–8 | Charter | 128 |
| The Grove BVSD's Early Learning Program | Record | Buena Vista School District No. R-31 | BUENA VISTA, 81211Rural: Fringe | PK | Other | 82 |
| Salida Early Childhood Center | Record | Salida School District No. R-32 | SALIDA, 81201Town: Remote | PK | Other | 71 |
| Crest Academy | Record | Salida School District No. R-32 | SALIDA, 81201Town: Remote | 5–8 | Middle | 58 |
| Horizons Exploratory Academy | Record | Salida School District No. R-32 | SALIDA, 81201Town: Remote | 9–12 | Alternative | 34 |
| Chaffee County High School | Record | Buena Vista School District No. R-31 | BUENA VISTA, 81211Town: Remote | 7–12 | Alternative | 19 |
Longfellow Elementary School
Salida School District No. R-32
SALIDA, 81201 / Town: Remote
Avery/Parsons Elementary School
Buena Vista School District No. R-31
BUENA VISTA, 81211 / Rural: Fringe
Salida High School
Salida School District No. R-32
SALIDA, 81201 / Town: Remote
Salida Middle School
Salida School District No. R-32
SALIDA, 81201 / Town: Remote
Buena Vista High School
Buena Vista School District No. R-31
BUENA VISTA, 81211 / Town: Remote
Buena Vista Middle School
Buena Vista School District No. R-31
BUENA VISTA, 81211 / Town: Remote
Salida Montessori Charter School
State Charter School Institute
SALIDA, 81201 / Town: Remote
The Grove BVSD's Early Learning Program
Buena Vista School District No. R-31
BUENA VISTA, 81211 / Rural: Fringe
Salida Early Childhood Center
Salida School District No. R-32
SALIDA, 81201 / Town: Remote
Horizons Exploratory Academy
Salida School District No. R-32
SALIDA, 81201 / Town: Remote
Chaffee County High School
Buena Vista School District No. R-31
BUENA VISTA, 81211 / Town: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,720
State avg $7,447
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Chaffee County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Colorado counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Colorado?
How should I read the school score in Chaffee County?
What is the graduation rate in Chaffee County?
How much does Chaffee County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Chaffee County, Colorado — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Chaffee County, Colorado?
Chaffee County provides 12 public schools for 2,487 students, spread across two districts. This mountain community features a balanced mix of 3 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools.
What are the major school districts in Chaffee County, Colorado?
Salida School District R-32 is the largest with 6 schools and 1,327 students. One charter school exists within the county, providing an alternative to the traditional public school structure.
What is the school experience like in Chaffee County?
Ten of the county's schools are located in town settings, with an average size of 207 students. Longfellow Elementary is the largest school, creating a central hub for Salida's 455 youngest learners.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.