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

No. Use the Montrose 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 Montrose 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 Montrose County?

Start with the 19 listed public schools and 2 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Montrose County Schools & Education

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

Montrose County, Colorado

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

School Score

12/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

77.4%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

77.4%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 83.1%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,129

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,447

School Score

12/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 36/100

State Score Position

#56

of 63 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Montrose County

Measured School Summary

Montrose County faces educational challenges with a school score of 12/100 and a graduation rate of 77.4%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $6,129 per pupil, Montrose County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 66% below the Colorado average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 5.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 18% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Montrose 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

19 public schools and 2 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

12/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #56 of 63 Colorado counties with school score data.

Completion

77.4%

5.7 pts below the state average

Funding context

$6,129

$1,318 below the state average

School coverage

2 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

Montrose County has 19 public schools across 2 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 Montrose 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.

Dominant-district county

Montrose County School District Re-1J carries most of the listed public-school system, with 15 of 19 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#56

of 63 Colorado counties with school score data. The county score is 24 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.

Montrose County School District Re-1J

Elementary to high school visible

6,029 students

Elementary 6Middle 2High 4Other 3

15 listed schools in this county slice.

West End School District No. Re-2

Elementary to high school visible

260 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 1

4 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Montrose County School District Re-1J is the largest listed district slice, with 15 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 Montrose County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Montrose 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 Montrose 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 Robust Regional Education System

Montrose County supports 6,289 students across 19 public schools and two school districts. The landscape consists of seven elementary schools, three middle schools, and five high schools, providing comprehensive coverage for all age groups.

Montrose County Re-1J Leads the Way

Montrose County School District Re-1J is the dominant provider, educating 6,029 students across 15 schools. The county also features two charter schools, providing specialized options for approximately 10% of the total school roster.

Town Staples and Large Campus Life

Eleven schools are situated in town locales, creating a centralized feel for most students. Montrose High School is the county's largest institution with 1,261 students, nearly four times the county's average school size of 331.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Montrose County

Reported Enrollment

6,289

19 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

11% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary7

Middle3

High5

Other4

2 School Districts in Montrose County

Montrose County School District Re-1J

West End School District No. Re-2

4 schools

260 students

19 Public Schools in Montrose 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 19 of 19 matching schools

Public schools in Montrose County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Montrose High School	Profile	Montrose County School District Re-1J	MONTROSE, 81402Town: Remote	9–12	High	1,261
Centennial Middle School	Record	Montrose County School District Re-1J	MONTROSE, 81402Town: Remote	6–8	Middle	582
Johnson Elementary School	Record	Montrose County School District Re-1J	MONTROSE, 81402Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	529
Columbine Middle School	Record	Montrose County School District Re-1J	MONTROSE, 81402Town: Remote	6–8	Middle	517
Olathe Middle/High School	Record	Montrose County School District Re-1J	OLATHE, 81425Rural: Distant	6–12	High	517
Olathe Elementary School	Record	Montrose County School District Re-1J	OLATHE, 81425Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	455
Cottonwood Elementary School	Record	Montrose County School District Re-1J	MONTROSE, 81402Town: Remote	KG–5	Primary	403
Oak Grove Elementary School	Record	Montrose County School District Re-1J	MONTROSE, 81402Rural: Fringe	KG–5	Primary	402
Pomona Elementary School	Record	Montrose County School District Re-1J	MONTROSE, 81402Town: Remote	KG–5	Primary	336
Northside Elementary School	Record	Montrose County School District Re-1J	MONTROSE, 81402Town: Remote	KG–5	Primary	318
Peak Virtual Academy	Record	Montrose County School District Re-1J	MONTROSE, 81402Town: Remote	KG–12	Other	214
Early Childhood Center	Record	Montrose County School District Re-1J	MONTROSE, 81402Town: Remote	PK	Other	176
Vista Charter School	Record	Montrose County School District Re-1J	MONTROSE, 81402Town: Remote	9–12	Charter	161
Naturita Elementary School	Record	West End School District No. Re-2	NATURITA, 81422Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	154
Black Canyon High School	Record	Montrose County School District Re-1J	MONTROSE, 81401Town: Remote	9–12	Alternative	114
Nucla High School	Record	West End School District No. Re-2	NUCLA, 81424Rural: Remote	9–12	High	63
Outer Range	Record	Montrose County School District Re-1J	MONTROSE, 81403Town: Remote	PK–12	Other	44
Nucla Middle School	Record	West End School District No. Re-2	NUCLA, 81424Rural: Remote	7–8	Middle	25
Paradox Valley Charter School	Record	West End School District No. Re-2	PARADOX, 81429Rural: Remote	PK–12	Charter	18

Montrose High School

Montrose County School District Re-1J

MONTROSE, 81402 / Town: Remote

Profile9–12High1,261 students

Centennial Middle School

Montrose County School District Re-1J

MONTROSE, 81402 / Town: Remote

Record6–8Middle582 students

Johnson Elementary School

Montrose County School District Re-1J

MONTROSE, 81402 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary529 students

Columbine Middle School

Montrose County School District Re-1J

MONTROSE, 81402 / Town: Remote

Record6–8Middle517 students

Olathe Middle/High School

Montrose County School District Re-1J

OLATHE, 81425 / Rural: Distant

Record6–12High517 students

Olathe Elementary School

Montrose County School District Re-1J

OLATHE, 81425 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary455 students

Cottonwood Elementary School

Montrose County School District Re-1J

MONTROSE, 81402 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary403 students

Oak Grove Elementary School

Montrose County School District Re-1J

MONTROSE, 81402 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary402 students

Pomona Elementary School

Montrose County School District Re-1J

MONTROSE, 81402 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary336 students

Northside Elementary School

Montrose County School District Re-1J

MONTROSE, 81402 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary318 students

Peak Virtual Academy

Montrose County School District Re-1J

MONTROSE, 81402 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–12Other214 students

Early Childhood Center

Montrose County School District Re-1J

MONTROSE, 81402 / Town: Remote

RecordPKOther176 students

Vista Charter School

Montrose County School District Re-1J

MONTROSE, 81402 / Town: Remote

Record9–12Charter161 students

Naturita Elementary School

West End School District No. Re-2

NATURITA, 81422 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary154 students

Black Canyon High School

Montrose County School District Re-1J

MONTROSE, 81401 / Town: Remote

Record9–12Alternative114 students

Nucla High School

West End School District No. Re-2

NUCLA, 81424 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High63 students

Outer Range

Montrose County School District Re-1J

MONTROSE, 81403 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–12Other44 students

Nucla Middle School

West End School District No. Re-2

NUCLA, 81424 / Rural: Remote

Record7–8Middle25 students

Paradox Valley Charter School

West End School District No. Re-2

PARADOX, 81429 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–12Charter18 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,129

State avg $7,447

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Montrose 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 Montrose County?

Montrose County has a school score of 12/100, 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 Montrose County?

The high school graduation rate in Montrose County is 77.4%, 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 Montrose County spend per student?

Montrose County spends $6,129 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 Montrose County, Colorado — FAQ

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

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

What is the school experience like in Montrose County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Montezuma County

Colorado

+1 pts

14/100

School score

Morgan County

Colorado

+1 pts

14/100

School score

Denver County

Colorado

-3 pts

10/100

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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