Custer County Schools & Education
Custer County, Colorado
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
53/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
90.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
90.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 83.1%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,606
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,447
School Score
53/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 36/100
State Score Position
#11
of 63 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Custer County
Measured School Summary
Custer County performs at an average level with a school score of 53/100 and a solid graduation rate of 90.0%.
Funding Context
At $7,606 per pupil, Custer County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 47% above the Colorado average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 6.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Custer 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
3 public schools and 1 district 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
53/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #11 of 63 Colorado counties with school score data.
Completion
90.0%
6.9 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,606
$159 above the state average
School coverage
3
1 district represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Custer County has 3 public schools across 1 district, 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 Custer 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.
Small-system county
Custer County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.
State position
#11
of 63 Colorado counties with school score data. The county score is 17 points above 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.
Custer County School District Consolidate 1
Elementary to high school visible
354 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Custer County School District Consolidate 1 is the largest listed district slice, with 3 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 Custer County?
Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Custer 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.
A Consolidated Mountain Education
Custer County manages three public schools—one elementary, one middle, and one high school—serving 354 students. All schools operate under a single consolidated district, ensuring a seamless transition for students as they age. This traditional system contains no charter schools, focusing all community efforts on the district campuses.
One District, One Mission
Custer County School District Consolidate 1 is the sole provider for the county's 354 students. The district centralizes all resources into its three-school campus located in Westcliffe. This arrangement fosters a strong sense of school spirit and community identity for all residents.
The Heart of a Rural Community
The three schools are rural and intimate, with an average school size of 118 students. Custer County Elementary is the largest school with 165 students, while Custer Middle School is the smallest with 75. Learning here feels personal, with small cohorts that move together through every grade level.
School Overview
Total Schools
3
in Custer County
Reported Enrollment
354
3 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Custer County
Custer County School District Consolidate 1
3 Public Schools in Custer 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 3 of 3 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custer County Elementary School | Record | Custer County School District Consolidate 1 | WESTCLIFFE, 81252Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 165 |
| Custer County High School | Record | Custer County School District Consolidate 1 | WESTCLIFFE, 81252Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 114 |
| Custer Middle School | Record | Custer County School District Consolidate 1 | WESTCLIFFE, 81252Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 75 |
Custer County Elementary School
Custer County School District Consolidate 1
WESTCLIFFE, 81252 / Rural: Remote
Custer County High School
Custer County School District Consolidate 1
WESTCLIFFE, 81252 / Rural: Remote
Custer Middle School
Custer County School District Consolidate 1
WESTCLIFFE, 81252 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,606
State avg $7,447
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Custer 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 Custer County?
What is the graduation rate in Custer County?
How much does Custer County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Custer County, Colorado — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Custer County, Colorado?
Custer County manages three public schools—one elementary, one middle, and one high school—serving 354 students. All schools operate under a single consolidated district, ensuring a seamless transition for students as they age. This traditional system contains no charter schools, focusing all community efforts on the district campuses.
What are the major school districts in Custer County, Colorado?
Custer County School District Consolidate 1 is the sole provider for the county's 354 students. The district centralizes all resources into its three-school campus located in Westcliffe. This arrangement fosters a strong sense of school spirit and community identity for all residents.
What is the school experience like in Custer County?
The three schools are rural and intimate, with an average school size of 118 students. Custer County Elementary is the largest school with 165 students, while Custer Middle School is the smallest with 75. Learning here feels personal, with small cohorts that move together through every grade level.
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.