schoolsbycounty

Gunnison County Schools & Education

School Score

56/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

92.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

92.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 83.1%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,208

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,447

School Score

56/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 36/100

State Score Position

#8

of 63 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Gunnison County

Measured School Summary

Gunnison County performs at an average level with a school score of 56/100 and a solid graduation rate of 92.0%.

Funding Context

At $7,208 per pupil, Gunnison County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 54% above the Colorado average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 8.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 3% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Gunnison 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

7 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

56/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #8 of 63 Colorado counties with school score data.

Completion

92.0%

8.9 pts above the state average

Funding context

$7,208

$239 below the state average

School coverage

7

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

Gunnison County has 7 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.

Parent decision brief

What Gunnison 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

Gunnison 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

#8

of 63 Colorado counties with school score data. The county score is 20 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.

Gunnison Watershed School District Re1J

Elementary to high school visible

2,061 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 2Other 2

7 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Gunnison Watershed School District Re1J is the largest listed district slice, with 7 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 Gunnison 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?

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 Gunnison 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.

Consolidated Success in Gunnison Schools

Gunnison County operates 7 public schools under a single unified school district to serve 2,061 students. The infrastructure includes two elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools, alongside specialized programs.

One District, Diverse Options

The Gunnison Watershed School District Re1J manages every school in the county, ensuring consistent standards for all 2,061 students. One of the seven schools is a charter, representing 14.3% of the local educational options.

From Town Centers to Rural Classrooms

Schooling here feels personal, with an average size of 294 students and a mix of rural and town settings. Gunnison Elementary is the largest at 521 students, while Gunnison Middle School offers a more compact environment with 288 students.

School Overview

Total Schools

7

in Gunnison County

Reported Enrollment

2,061

7 schools reporting

School Districts

1

district

Charter Schools

1

14% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary2
Middle1
High2
Other2

1 School District in Gunnison County

Gunnison Watershed School District Re1J

7 schools
2,061 students enrolled

7 Public Schools in Gunnison 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 data

Level

Showing 7 of 7 matching schools

Gunnison Elementary School

Gunnison Watershed School District Re1J

GUNNISON, 81230 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary521 students

Crested Butte Secondary School

Gunnison Watershed School District Re1J

CRESTED BUTTE, 81224 / Rural: Remote

Record6–12High400 students

Gunnison High School

Gunnison Watershed School District Re1J

GUNNISON, 81230 / Town: Remote

Record9–12High396 students

Crested Butte Elementary School

Gunnison Watershed School District Re1J

CRESTED BUTTE, 81224 / Rural: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary328 students

Gunnison Middle School

Gunnison Watershed School District Re1J

GUNNISON, 81230 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle288 students

Lake Preschool

Gunnison Watershed School District Re1J

GUNNISON, 81230 / Town: Remote

RecordPKOther73 students

Marble Charter School

Gunnison Watershed School District Re1J

MARBLE, 81623 / Rural: Remote

RecordKG–10Charter55 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,208

State avg $7,447

Compare Nearby Counties

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

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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 Gunnison County?
Gunnison County has a school score of 56/100, which is a midrange 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 Gunnison County?
The high school graduation rate in Gunnison County is 92.0%, which is above 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 Gunnison County spend per student?
Gunnison County spends $7,208 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 Gunnison County, Colorado — FAQ

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

Gunnison County operates 7 public schools under a single unified school district to serve 2,061 students. The infrastructure includes two elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools, alongside specialized programs.

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

The Gunnison Watershed School District Re1J manages every school in the county, ensuring consistent standards for all 2,061 students. One of the seven schools is a charter, representing 14.3% of the local educational options.

What is the school experience like in Gunnison County?

Schooling here feels personal, with an average size of 294 students and a mix of rural and town settings. Gunnison Elementary is the largest at 521 students, while Gunnison Middle School offers a more compact environment with 288 students.

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.