schoolsbycounty

El Paso County Schools & Education

School Score

7/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

73.9%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

73.9%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 83.1%

Per-Pupil Spending

$5,813

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,447

School Score

7/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 36/100

State Score Position

#61

of 63 counties by score

Education Data Brief: El Paso County

Measured School Summary

El Paso County faces educational challenges with a school score of 7/100 and a graduation rate of 73.9%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $5,813 per pupil, El Paso County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 82% below the Colorado average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 9.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 22% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read El Paso 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

240 public schools and 17 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

7/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #61 of 63 Colorado counties with school score data.

Completion

73.9%

9.2 pts below the state average

Funding context

$5,813

$1,634 below the state average

School coverage

240

17 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

El Paso County has 240 public schools across 17 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.

Parent decision brief

What El Paso 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.

Large multi-district county

El Paso County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

#61

of 63 Colorado counties with school score data. The county score is 29 points below 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.

Academy School District No. 20 in the county of El Paso an

Elementary to high school visible

25,719 students

Elementary 23Middle 7High 9Other 1

40 listed schools in this county slice.

Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E

Elementary to high school visible

22,725 students

Elementary 36Middle 9High 11Other 1

57 listed schools in this county slice.

El Paso County Colorado School District 49

Elementary to high school visible

18,825 students

Elementary 17Middle 3High 6Other 3

29 listed schools in this county slice.

Harrison School District No. 2 in the county of El Paso an

Elementary to high school visible

12,267 students

Elementary 16Middle 5High 6Other 1

28 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E is the largest listed district slice, with 57 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 El Paso County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different El Paso 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?

Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?

Education Overview

About Schools in El Paso 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 Diverse Network of 17 Districts

El Paso County features a vast educational landscape with 240 schools and a total enrollment exceeding 115,800 students. This complex system is managed by 17 different school districts, ranging from urban centers to rural outposts.

Major Districts and Charter Options

Academy School District 20 and Colorado Springs District 11 are the largest, serving over 25,000 and 22,000 students respectively. Charter schools are highly prevalent, with 40 active charters representing nearly 17% of all schools.

City Schooling with Suburban Options

With 136 city-based schools, the average campus size is 487 students. The county hosts massive institutions like Fountain-Fort Carson High School, which enrolls over 2,000 students, alongside 40 alternative and charter paths.

School Overview

Total Schools

240

in El Paso County

Reported Enrollment

115,810

239 schools reporting

School Districts

17

districts

Charter Schools

40

17% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary135
Middle35
High53
Other17

240 Public Schools in El Paso County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 27 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 240 matching schools

Fountain-Fort Carson High School

Fountain School District No. 8 in the county of El Paso an

FOUNTAIN, 80817 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,040 students

The Classical Academy Charter

Academy School District No. 20 in the county of El Paso an

COLORADO SPRINGS, 80921 / Rural: Fringe

ProfileKG–6Charter1,874 students

Doherty High School

Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E

COLORADO SPRINGS, 80917 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,832 students

Pine Creek High School

Academy School District No. 20 in the county of El Paso an

COLORADO SPRINGS, 80908 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,815 students

Liberty High School

Academy School District No. 20 in the county of El Paso an

COLORADO SPRINGS, 80920 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,647 students

Banning Lewis Ranch Academy

El Paso County Colorado School District 49

COLORADO SPRINGS, 80927 / City: Large

ProfileKG–12Charter1,600 students

Vista Ridge High School

El Paso County Colorado School District 49

COLORADO SPRINGS, 80923 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,587 students

Rampart High School

Academy School District No. 20 in the county of El Paso an

COLORADO SPRINGS, 80920 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,454 students

Palmer High School

Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E

COLORADO SPRINGS, 80903 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,384 students

Air Academy High School

Academy School District No. 20 in the county of El Paso an

USAF ACADEMY, 80840 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,329 students

Sand Creek High School

El Paso County Colorado School District 49

COLORADO SPRINGS, 80922 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,307 students

Coronado High School

Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E

COLORADO SPRINGS, 80904 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,305 students

Mesa Ridge High School

School District No. 3 in the county of El Paso and State of

COLORADO SPRINGS, 80911 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,269 students

Falcon High School

El Paso County Colorado School District 49

PEYTON, 80831 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,248 students

Cheyenne Mountain High School

Cheyenne Mountain School District No. 12 in the county of E

COLORADO SPRINGS, 80906 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,241 students

Widefield High School

School District No. 3 in the county of El Paso and State of

COLORADO SPRINGS, 80911 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,241 students

Lewis-Palmer High School

Lewis-Palmer Consolidated School District No. 38 in the co

MONUMENT, 80132 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,181 students

Harrison High School

Harrison School District No. 2 in the county of El Paso an

COLORADO SPRINGS, 80906 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,179 students

Rocky Mountain Classical Academy

El Paso County Colorado School District 49

COLORADO SPRINGS, 80922 / Suburb: Large

ProfileKG–8Charter1,132 students

Palmer Ridge High School

Lewis-Palmer Consolidated School District No. 38 in the co

MONUMENT, 80132 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,094 students

Additional School Profiles

Dedicated profile pages are generated for a subset of public schools with broad enrollment coverage. All other schools remain listed in the county table.

7 more profiles

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$5,813

State avg $7,447

Compare Nearby Counties

Review El Paso County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which Colorado counties have the highest graduation rates?
Pitkin County (97.0%), Rio Blanco County (93.2%), and Routt County (93.2%) currently lead Colorado among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Colorado?
Across Colorado counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,447. The highest current county values are Mineral County ($13,728), San Juan County ($13,639), and Hinsdale County ($13,446). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in El Paso County?
El Paso County has a school score of 7/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in El Paso County?
The high school graduation rate in El Paso County is 73.9%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does El Paso County spend per student?
El Paso County spends $5,813 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in El Paso County, Colorado — FAQ

What does the school system look like in El Paso County, Colorado?

El Paso County features a vast educational landscape with 240 schools and a total enrollment exceeding 115,800 students. This complex system is managed by 17 different school districts, ranging from urban centers to rural outposts.

What are the major school districts in El Paso County, Colorado?

Academy School District 20 and Colorado Springs District 11 are the largest, serving over 25,000 and 22,000 students respectively. Charter schools are highly prevalent, with 40 active charters representing nearly 17% of all schools.

What is the school experience like in El Paso County?

With 136 city-based schools, the average campus size is 487 students. The county hosts massive institutions like Fountain-Fort Carson High School, which enrolls over 2,000 students, alongside 40 alternative and charter paths.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.