Rio Grande County Schools & Education
Rio Grande County, Colorado
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
7/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
77.5%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
77.5%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 83.1%
Per-Pupil Spending
$5,643
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,447
School Score
7/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 36/100
State Score Position
#59
of 63 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Rio Grande County
Measured School Summary
Rio Grande County faces educational challenges with a school score of 7/100 and a graduation rate of 77.5%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $5,643 per pupil, Rio Grande County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 80% below the Colorado average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 5.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 24% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Rio Grande 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
11 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
7/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #59 of 63 Colorado counties with school score data.
Completion
77.5%
5.6 pts below the state average
Funding context
$5,643
$1,804 below the state average
School coverage
11
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
Rio Grande County has 11 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.
What Rio Grande 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
Rio Grande 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
#59
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.
Monte Vista School District No. C-8
Elementary to high school visible
1,033 students
6 listed schools in this county slice.
Upper Rio Grande School District C-7
Elementary and high visible
386 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Sargent School District No. Re-33J
Elementary to high school visible
322 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Monte Vista School District No. C-8 is the largest listed district slice, with 6 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 Rio Grande County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Rio Grande 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 Rio Grande 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.
Valley Schools Serving Three Local Districts
Rio Grande County operates 11 public schools across three districts, educating 1,741 students. The landscape is split between four elementary schools, four high schools, and two middle schools, providing full coverage for the San Luis Valley area.
Growth Opportunities in Local Academic Scores
The county's graduation rate currently stands at 77.5%, trailing the state average. Spending is also lower than state benchmarks, with a per-pupil expenditure of $5,643 used to support the local student body.
Focusing on the Monte Vista Community
Monte Vista School District No. C-8 is the primary provider, managing six schools and 1,033 students. No charter schools exist in the county, meaning traditional districts are the central pillar of the local education system.
Small-Town Feel and Rural Roots
Learning here takes place in 6 rural and 5 town-based schools, where the average enrollment is a modest 158 students. Bill Metz Elementary is the largest school with 269 students, ensuring most children learn in very small cohorts.
School Overview
Total Schools
11
in Rio Grande County
Reported Enrollment
1,741
11 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in Rio Grande County
Monte Vista School District No. C-8
Upper Rio Grande School District C-7
Sargent School District No. Re-33J
11 Public Schools in Rio Grande 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 dataLevel
Showing 11 of 11 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Metz Elementary School | Record | Monte Vista School District No. C-8 | MONTE VISTA, 81144Town: Remote | 2–5 | Primary | 269 |
| Monte Vista Senior High School | Record | Monte Vista School District No. C-8 | MONTE VISTA, 81144Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 250 |
| Monte Vista Middle School | Record | Monte Vista School District No. C-8 | MONTE VISTA, 81144Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 210 |
| Del Norte Elementary School | Record | Upper Rio Grande School District C-7 | DEL NORTE, 81132Rural: Remote | KG–6 | Primary | 198 |
| Del Norte High Jr./Sr. High School | Record | Upper Rio Grande School District C-7 | DEL NORTE, 81132Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 188 |
| Sargent Elementary School | Record | Sargent School District No. Re-33J | MONTE VISTA, 81144Rural: Distant | KG–6 | Primary | 180 |
| Marsh Elementary School | Record | Monte Vista School District No. C-8 | MONTE VISTA, 81144Town: Remote | PK–1 | Primary | 166 |
| Sargent Senior High School | Record | Sargent School District No. Re-33J | MONTE VISTA, 81144Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 86 |
| Monte Vista On-Line Academy | Record | Monte Vista School District No. C-8 | MONTE VISTA, 81144Town: Remote | 4–12 | Virtual | 85 |
| Sargent Junior High School | Record | Sargent School District No. Re-33J | MONTE VISTA, 81144Rural: Distant | 7–8 | Middle | 56 |
| Byron Syring Delta Center | Record | Monte Vista School District No. C-8 | MONTE VISTA, 81144Town: Remote | 9–12 | Alternative | 53 |
Bill Metz Elementary School
Monte Vista School District No. C-8
MONTE VISTA, 81144 / Town: Remote
Monte Vista Senior High School
Monte Vista School District No. C-8
MONTE VISTA, 81144 / Town: Remote
Monte Vista Middle School
Monte Vista School District No. C-8
MONTE VISTA, 81144 / Rural: Fringe
Del Norte Elementary School
Upper Rio Grande School District C-7
DEL NORTE, 81132 / Rural: Remote
Del Norte High Jr./Sr. High School
Upper Rio Grande School District C-7
DEL NORTE, 81132 / Rural: Remote
Sargent Elementary School
Sargent School District No. Re-33J
MONTE VISTA, 81144 / Rural: Distant
Marsh Elementary School
Monte Vista School District No. C-8
MONTE VISTA, 81144 / Town: Remote
Sargent Senior High School
Sargent School District No. Re-33J
MONTE VISTA, 81144 / Rural: Distant
Monte Vista On-Line Academy
Monte Vista School District No. C-8
MONTE VISTA, 81144 / Town: Remote
Sargent Junior High School
Sargent School District No. Re-33J
MONTE VISTA, 81144 / Rural: Distant
Byron Syring Delta Center
Monte Vista School District No. C-8
MONTE VISTA, 81144 / Town: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$5,643
State avg $7,447
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Rio Grande County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Colorado counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Colorado?
How should I read the school score in Rio Grande County?
What is the graduation rate in Rio Grande County?
How much does Rio Grande County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Rio Grande County, Colorado — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Rio Grande County, Colorado?
Rio Grande County operates 11 public schools across three districts, educating 1,741 students. The landscape is split between four elementary schools, four high schools, and two middle schools, providing full coverage for the San Luis Valley area.
How do schools in Rio Grande County perform academically?
The county's graduation rate currently stands at 77.5%, trailing the state average. Spending is also lower than state benchmarks, with a per-pupil expenditure of $5,643 used to support the local student body.
What are the major school districts in Rio Grande County, Colorado?
Monte Vista School District No. C-8 is the primary provider, managing six schools and 1,033 students. No charter schools exist in the county, meaning traditional districts are the central pillar of the local education system.
What is the school experience like in Rio Grande County?
Learning here takes place in 6 rural and 5 town-based schools, where the average enrollment is a modest 158 students. Bill Metz Elementary is the largest school with 269 students, ensuring most children learn in very small cohorts.
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.