Can I use Garfield County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Garfield County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Garfield County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Garfield County?

Start with the 28 listed public schools and 3 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Garfield County Schools & Education

Name: Garfield County, Colorado Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Garfield County, Colorado

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

School Score

38/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

86.7%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

86.7%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 83.1%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,244

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,447

School Score

38/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 36/100

State Score Position

#25

of 63 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Garfield County

Measured School Summary

Garfield County faces educational challenges with a school score of 38/100 and a graduation rate of 86.7%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $7,244 per pupil, Garfield County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 5% above the Colorado average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 3% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Garfield 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

28 public schools and 3 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

38/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #25 of 63 Colorado counties with school score data.

Completion

86.7%

3.6 pts above the state average

Funding context

$7,244

$203 below the state average

School coverage

3 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

Garfield County has 28 public schools across 3 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.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Garfield 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

Garfield 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

#25

of 63 Colorado counties with school score data. The county score is 2 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.

Garfield School District No. Re-2

Elementary to high school visible

4,662 students

Elementary 6Middle 2High 2Other 0

10 listed schools in this county slice.

Grand Valley School District No. 16 in the county of Garfi

Elementary to high school visible

1,198 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 1

5 listed schools in this county slice.

Colorado River BOCES

High school only in this slice

169 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 1Other 1

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Garfield School District No. Re-2 is the largest listed district slice, with 10 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 Garfield County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Garfield 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 Garfield 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.

Diverse Schooling Across Garfield County

Garfield County operates 28 public schools serving a robust population of 10,273 students. This system spans three districts and includes 14 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 7 high schools.

Garfield Re-2 and Regional Districts

Garfield School District No. Re-2 is the largest provider, educating 4,662 students across 10 schools. Two charter schools operate within the county, representing about 7% of the total available campuses.

Mountain Town and Rural Diversity

With 19 schools located in towns and 9 in rural areas, the average school size is 380 students. Glenwood Springs High School is the largest institution, serving 1,002 students in a high-enrollment town environment.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Garfield County

Reported Enrollment

10,273

28 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

7% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary14

Middle5

High7

Other2

3 School Districts in Garfield County

Garfield School District No. Re-2

Grand Valley School District No. 16 in the county of Garfi

5 schools

1,198 students

Colorado River BOCES

2 schools

169 students

28 Public Schools in Garfield County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.

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

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 28 matching schools

Public schools in Garfield County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Glenwood Springs High School	Profile	Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1	GLENWOOD SPRINGS, 81601Town: Remote	9–12	High	1,002
Rifle High School	Record	Garfield School District No. Re-2	RIFLE, 81650Town: Remote	9–12	High	791
Rifle Middle School	Record	Garfield School District No. Re-2	RIFLE, 81650Town: Remote	6–8	Middle	623
Coal Ridge High School	Record	Garfield School District No. Re-2	NEW CASTLE, 81647Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	527
Riverside School	Record	Garfield School District No. Re-2	NEW CASTLE, 81647Town: Remote	6–8	Middle	468
Cactus Valley Elementary School	Record	Garfield School District No. Re-2	SILT, 81652Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	463
Highland Elementary School	Record	Garfield School District No. Re-2	RIFLE, 81650Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	451
Glenwood Springs Elementary School	Record	Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1	GLENWOOD SPRINGS, 81602Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	437
Roaring Fork High School	Record	Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1	CARBONDALE, 81623Town: Remote	9–12	High	427
Graham Mesa Elementary School	Record	Garfield School District No. Re-2	RIFLE, 81650Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	425
Crystal River Elementary School	Record	Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1	CARBONDALE, 81623Town: Remote	PK–4	Primary	417
Glenwood Springs Middle School	Record	Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1	GLENWOOD SPRINGS, 81601Town: Remote	6–8	Middle	408
Wamsley Elementary School	Record	Garfield School District No. Re-2	RIFLE, 81650Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	395
Riverview School	Record	Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1	GLENWOOD SPRINGS, 81601Rural: Fringe	PK–8	Primary	387
Bea Underwood Elementary School	Record	Grand Valley School District No. 16 in the county of Garfi	PARACHUTE, 81635Town: Distant	2–5	Primary	369
Carbondale Middle School	Record	Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1	CARBONDALE, 81623Town: Remote	5–8	Middle	345
Sopris Elementary School	Record	Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1	GLENWOOD SPRINGS, 81602Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	342
Grand Valley High School	Record	Grand Valley School District No. 16 in the county of Garfi	PARACHUTE, 81635Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	317
Kathryn Senor Elementary School	Record	Garfield School District No. Re-2	NEW CASTLE, 81647Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	273
Ross Montessori School	Record	State Charter School Institute	CARBONDALE, 81623Town: Remote	KG–8	Charter	250

Glenwood Springs High School

Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, 81601 / Town: Remote

Profile9–12High1,002 students

Rifle High School

Garfield School District No. Re-2

RIFLE, 81650 / Town: Remote

Record9–12High791 students

Rifle Middle School

Garfield School District No. Re-2

RIFLE, 81650 / Town: Remote

Record6–8Middle623 students

Coal Ridge High School

Garfield School District No. Re-2

NEW CASTLE, 81647 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High527 students

Riverside School

Garfield School District No. Re-2

NEW CASTLE, 81647 / Town: Remote

Record6–8Middle468 students

Cactus Valley Elementary School

Garfield School District No. Re-2

SILT, 81652 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary463 students

Highland Elementary School

Garfield School District No. Re-2

RIFLE, 81650 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary451 students

Glenwood Springs Elementary School

Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, 81602 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary437 students

Roaring Fork High School

Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1

CARBONDALE, 81623 / Town: Remote

Record9–12High427 students

Graham Mesa Elementary School

Garfield School District No. Re-2

RIFLE, 81650 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary425 students

Crystal River Elementary School

Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1

CARBONDALE, 81623 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–4Primary417 students

Glenwood Springs Middle School

Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, 81601 / Town: Remote

Record6–8Middle408 students

Wamsley Elementary School

Garfield School District No. Re-2

RIFLE, 81650 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary395 students

Riverview School

Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, 81601 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–8Primary387 students

Bea Underwood Elementary School

Grand Valley School District No. 16 in the county of Garfi

PARACHUTE, 81635 / Town: Distant

Record2–5Primary369 students

Carbondale Middle School

Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1

CARBONDALE, 81623 / Town: Remote

Record5–8Middle345 students

Sopris Elementary School

Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, 81602 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary342 students

Grand Valley High School

Grand Valley School District No. 16 in the county of Garfi

PARACHUTE, 81635 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High317 students

Kathryn Senor Elementary School

Garfield School District No. Re-2

NEW CASTLE, 81647 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary273 students

Ross Montessori School

State Charter School Institute

CARBONDALE, 81623 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–8Charter250 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,244

State avg $7,447

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Garfield 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.

View Schools

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 Garfield County?

Garfield County has a school score of 38/100, 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 Garfield County?

The high school graduation rate in Garfield County is 86.7%, 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 Garfield County spend per student?

Garfield County spends $7,244 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 Garfield County, Colorado — FAQ

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

Garfield County operates 28 public schools serving a robust population of 10,273 students. This system spans three districts and includes 14 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 7 high schools.

What are the major school districts in Garfield County, Colorado?

What is the school experience like in Garfield County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Dolores County

Colorado

-0 pts

38/100

School score

Eagle County

Colorado

+0 pts

38/100

School score

Washington County

Colorado

+0 pts

38/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed 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.

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