State district guide

Colorado public school districts

Compare district systems across Colorado by enrollment scale, school count, county context, generated guide coverage, and the parent checks that matter before choosing where to live.

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Direct answer for parents

What this district ranking can and cannot tell you

If you are searching for the best school districts in Colorado, start with the largest and most data-rich district systems below, then verify the specific school assigned to each address. SchoolsByCounty orders districts by reported enrollment and school count because those fields are consistent in NCES. It does not convert district size into a quality rating.

Start with scale

School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C

87,883 reported students

Check county context

San Juan County

97/100 county score

Verify locally

Address fit

Attendance boundaries and transfers are not in NCES

District table

Largest public school districts in Colorado

The first 60 rows show the largest district systems by reported enrollment. Open district guides where available, or use the county profile when a detailed district page is not generated yet.

186 districts in state file

Colorado public school districts ranked by reported enrollment.
Rank	District	County context	Students	Schools	Parent lens
1	School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C LEA ID 0803360 Denver County203 schools	Denver County 10/100 county score	87,883	203	Elementary, middle, and high school records 56 charter Open district guide
2	Jefferson County School District No. R-1 LEA ID 0804800 Jefferson County162 schools	Jefferson County 22/100 county score	75,327	162	Elementary, middle, and high school records 19 charter, 2 virtual Open district guide
3	Douglas County School District No. Re 1 LEA ID 0803450 Douglas County88 schools	Douglas County 38/100 county score	62,341	88	Elementary, middle, and high school records 18 charter Open district guide
4	Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah LEA ID 0802910 Arapahoe County70 schools	Arapahoe County 41/100 county score	52,392	70	Elementary, middle, and high school records 3 charter Open district guide
5	Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A LEA ID 0802340 Adams County61 schools	Adams County 20/100 county score	38,122	61	Elementary, middle, and high school records 12 charter Open district guide
6	Adams 12 Five Star Schools LEA ID 0806900 Adams County55 schools	Adams County 20/100 county score	35,747	55	Elementary, middle, and high school records 4 charter, 2 virtual Open district guide
7	St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J LEA ID 0805370 Boulder County54 schools	Boulder County 45/100 county score	31,894	54	Elementary, middle, and high school records 6 charter, 1 virtual Open district guide
8	Poudre School District R-1 LEA ID 0803990 Larimer County52 schools	Larimer County 26/100 county score	29,977	52	Elementary, middle, and high school records 5 charter Open district guide
9	Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 LEA ID 0802490 Boulder County56 schools	Boulder County 45/100 county score	28,485	56	Elementary, middle, and high school records 5 charter Open district guide
10	Academy School District No. 20 in the county of El Paso an LEA ID 0801920 El Paso County40 schools	El Paso County 7/100 county score	25,719	40	Elementary, middle, and high school records 5 charter Open district guide
11	El Paso County Colorado School District 49 LEA ID 0803870 El Paso County30 schools	El Paso County 7/100 county score	24,515	30	Elementary, middle, and high school records 9 charter, 1 virtual Open district guide
12	Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E LEA ID 0803060 El Paso County57 schools	El Paso County 7/100 county score	22,725	57	Elementary, middle, and high school records 6 charter, 1 virtual Open district guide
13	GreeleySchool District No. 6 in the county of Weld and Sta LEA ID 0804410 Weld County35 schools	Weld County 18/100 county score	22,200	35	Elementary, middle, and high school records 6 charter, 1 virtual Open district guide
14	School District 27J LEA ID 0802580 Adams County31 schools	Adams County 20/100 county score	20,985	31	Elementary, middle, and high school records 6 charter, 1 virtual Open district guide
15	Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 LEA ID 0804350 Mesa County47 schools	Mesa County 7/100 county score	20,762	47	Elementary, middle, and high school records 3 charter Open district guide
16	State Charter School Institute LEA ID 0800020 Adams County43 schools	Adams County 20/100 county score	19,239	43	Elementary, middle, and high school records 43 charter, 1 virtual Open district guide
17	Thompson School District R-2J LEA ID 0805400 Larimer County34 schools	Larimer County 26/100 county score	15,083	34	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 charter Open district guide
18	Pueblo School District No. 60 in the county of Pueblo and LEA ID 0806120 Pueblo County35 schools	Pueblo County 21/100 county score	15,025	35	Elementary, middle, and high school records 3 charter, 2 virtual Open district guide
19	Littleton School District No. 6 in the county of Arapahoe LEA ID 0805310 Arapahoe County22 schools	Arapahoe County 41/100 county score	13,450	22	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 charter Open district guide
20	Harrison School District No. 2 in the county of El Paso an LEA ID 0804530 El Paso County28 schools	El Paso County 7/100 county score	12,267	28	Elementary, middle, and high school records 9 charter, 1 virtual Open district guide
21	Pueblo County School District 70 LEA ID 0806150 Pueblo County26 schools	Pueblo County 21/100 county score	10,321	26	Elementary, middle, and high school records 5 charter Open district guide
22	School District No. 3 in the county of El Paso and State of LEA ID 0806480 El Paso County18 schools	El Paso County 7/100 county score	9,611	18	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter, 1 virtual Open district guide
23	Weld County Reorganized School District No. Re-4 LEA ID 0807350 Weld County12 schools	Weld County 18/100 county score	8,227	12	Elementary, middle, and high school records 3 charter Open district guide
24	Fountain School District No. 8 in the county of El Paso an LEA ID 0804080 El Paso County13 schools	El Paso County 7/100 county score	8,201	13	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
25	Westminster Public Schools LEA ID 0807230 Adams County18 schools	Adams County 20/100 county score	8,004	18	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
26	Mapleton School District No. 1 in the county of Adams & St LEA ID 0805550 Adams County20 schools	Adams County 20/100 county score	7,088	20	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
27	Eagle County School District No. Re 50 LEA ID 0803540 Eagle County21 schools	Eagle County 38/100 county score	6,620	21	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter, 2 virtual Open district guide
28	Lewis-Palmer Consolidated School District No. 38 in the co LEA ID 0805820 El Paso County10 schools	El Paso County 7/100 county score	6,496	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 charter Open district guide
29	Montrose County School District Re-1J LEA ID 0805790 Montrose County15 schools	Montrose County 12/100 county score	6,029	15	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
30	School District N. 14 in the county of Adams & State of Colo LEA ID 0801950 Adams County13 schools	Adams County 20/100 county score	5,692	13	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
31	Byers School District No. 32J LEA ID 0802700 Arapahoe County10 schools	Arapahoe County 41/100 county score	5,671	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records 8 charter, 8 virtual Open district guide
32	Durango School District No. 9-R LEA ID 0803480 La Plata County13 schools	La Plata County 6/100 county score	5,452	13	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter, 1 virtual Open district guide
33	Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1 LEA ID 0804260 Pitkin County13 schools	Pitkin County 95/100 county score	5,382	13	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
34	Garfield School District No. Re-2 LEA ID 0806240 Garfield County10 schools	Garfield County 38/100 county score	4,662	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
35	Delta County Joint District No. 50 LEA ID 0803330 Delta County18 schools	Delta County 18/100 county score	4,592	18	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 charter, 1 virtual Open district guide
36	EDUCATION REENVISIONED BOCES LEA ID 0800282 Adams County9 schools	Adams County 20/100 county score	3,937	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records 6 virtual Open district guide
37	Weld County School District No. Re-5J LEA ID 0804830 Weld County7 schools	Weld County 18/100 county score	3,853	7	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 charter Open district guide
38	Cheyenne Mountain School District No. 12 in the county of E LEA ID 0802940 El Paso County9 schools	El Paso County 7/100 county score	3,737	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
39	Summit School District No. Re 1 LEA ID 0806810 Summit County9 schools	Summit County 53/100 county score	3,633	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
40	School District No. Re-3 Fort Morgan LEA ID 0804050 Morgan County8 schools	Morgan County 14/100 county score	3,421	8	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
41	Fremont Re-1 LEA ID 0802790 Fremont County8 schools	Fremont County 28/100 county score	3,305	8	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Detailed guide not generated yet
42	Weld County School District RE-3J LEA ID 0804920 Weld County8 schools	Weld County 18/100 county score	2,785	8	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter, 1 virtual Detailed guide not generated yet
43	Steamboat Springs School District No. Re 2 LEA ID 0806660 Routt County7 schools	Routt County 67/100 county score	2,664	7	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Detailed guide not generated yet
44	Weld re-8 schools LEA ID 0804020 Weld County6 schools	Weld County 18/100 county score	2,522	6	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
45	Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 LEA ID 0803090 Montezuma County10 schools	Montezuma County 14/100 county score	2,449	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records 3 charter Detailed guide not generated yet
46	Englewood School District No. 1 in the county of Arapahoe LEA ID 0803780 Arapahoe County9 schools	Arapahoe County 41/100 county score	2,441	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
47	ELIZABETH SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0803720 Elbert County7 schools	Elbert County 31/100 county score	2,379	7	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Detailed guide not generated yet
48	Alamosa School District No. Re-11J LEA ID 0802070 Alamosa County6 schools	Alamosa County 24/100 county score	2,116	6	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Detailed guide not generated yet
49	Moffat County School District RE: No. 1 LEA ID 0805730 Moffat County7 schools	Moffat County 9/100 county score	2,092	7	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
50	Gunnison Watershed School District Re1J LEA ID 0804470 Gunnison County7 schools	Gunnison County 56/100 county score	2,061	7	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Detailed guide not generated yet
51	Weld County School District No. Re-2 LEA ID 0803600 Weld County5 schools	Weld County 18/100 county score	1,977	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
52	School District No. Re-1 Valley LEA ID 0806690 Logan County7 schools	Logan County 23/100 county score	1,972	7	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
53	Weld County Reorganized School District No. Re-1 LEA ID 0804200 Weld County6 schools	Weld County 18/100 county score	1,837	6	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
54	Woodland Park School District No. Re-2 LEA ID 0807380 Teller County5 schools	Teller County 29/100 county score	1,744	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
55	Archuleta County School District No. 50 Jt LEA ID 0802190 Archuleta County5 schools	Archuleta County 47/100 county score	1,678	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Detailed guide not generated yet
56	Aspen School District No. 1 in the county of Pitkin and Sta LEA ID 0802280 Pitkin County5 schools	Pitkin County 95/100 county score	1,572	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Detailed guide not generated yet
57	Lamar School District No. Re-2 LEA ID 0805220 Prowers County6 schools	Prowers County 46/100 county score	1,522	6	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Detailed guide not generated yet
58	Fremont Re-2 LEA ID 0803960 Fremont County3 schools	Fremont County 28/100 county score	1,390	3	elementary, high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
59	School District No. Re-2 Brush LEA ID 0802610 Morgan County4 schools	Morgan County 14/100 county score	1,366	4	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
60	East Otero School District No. R1 LEA ID 0805130 Otero County4 schools	Otero County 28/100 county score	1,355	4	elementary, high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet

— = enrollment not reported in the district record. District rows are informational and must be paired with local assignment tools before a housing decision.

Methodology

How to use district rankings without overreading them

District-level data is useful because it shows the operating system around a public school search: how many schools exist, which county record anchors the district, how much enrollment is reported, and whether a detailed district guide is available. It is not enough to decide where a student should enroll.

Ranking basis

Rows are ordered by reported enrollment, then school count. The method favors broad, data-rich systems because those are the districts parents most often need to research before relocation.

County context

Each district is attached to a primary county record when available. County school scores are context signals, not district ratings, and nearby counties can still matter for commute and housing decisions.

Grade pathway

Elementary, middle, and high school counts help parents spot whether a district looks like a full K-12 pathway or a narrower operating unit. Feeder patterns still require local verification.

Address verification

The final decision happens at the address level. Confirm attendance zones, open-enrollment rules, magnet admissions, charter lotteries, and transfer windows with official district sources.

County context

Districts anchored in higher-scoring county contexts

These rows pair district records with the county-level SchoolsByCounty score. Treat this as a shortlist for deeper research, not a district quality ranking.

Silverton School District No. 1 in the county of San Juan

San Juan County

Students: 87
Schools: 3

Hinsdale County School District No. Re-1

Hinsdale County

Students: 81
Schools: 1

Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1

Pitkin County

Students: 5,382
Schools: 13

Open district guide

Aspen School District No. 1 in the county of Pitkin and Sta

Pitkin County

Students: 1,572
Schools: 5

Telluride School District No. R-1

San Miguel County

Students: 895
Schools: 4

Norwood School District No. R-2J

San Miguel County

Students: 189
Schools: 1

Parent checklist before relying on a district ranking

Use this page to narrow the field, then answer these local questions before treating any district as a fit for a specific home.

Which school does this address actually feed into?

Use the district address lookup and confirm edge cases near attendance-zone borders.

What happens at transition grades?

A strong elementary fit can split into several middle or high school paths.

Are choice programs realistic for this student?

Magnet, charter, virtual, and transfer options can involve lotteries, applications, or deadlines.

Is the county context aligned with housing tradeoffs?

Pair school research with taxes, commute, home prices, and safety before choosing where to live.

Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado School Districts

What are the best school districts in Colorado?

School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C, Jefferson County School District No. R-1, Douglas County School District No. Re 1 are the largest Colorado district systems by reported enrollment in the NCES file. SchoolsByCounty does not call them the best districts; use this page to find data-rich district systems, then verify assigned schools, program rules, and local fit.

How are Colorado districts ranked here?

Districts are ordered by reported student enrollment, then school count, using NCES public school district records. This is a research-priority ranking, not a quality rating.

Why do only 40 Colorado districts have district guide links?

SchoolsByCounty statically generates detailed district guides for the largest district systems nationally so the pages stay fast and substantive. Districts without guide links remain represented through county and state context pages.

Do these district pages show attendance boundaries?

No. Attendance zones, transfer rules, magnet eligibility, charter admission, transportation, and program availability must be verified with official district or local assignment tools before choosing a home.

Does a large district mean better schools?

No. Larger districts usually have more school options and more public data, but enrollment size is not a school-quality measure. Compare school-level records and official local sources before treating a district as a fit.

How many districts are included for Colorado?

This page includes 186 Colorado public school districts from the current NCES district file, alongside county context and generated district-guide availability where available.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorPublished Jun 9, 2026

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.

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