Best Public Schools in Walsenburg, CO

The city of Walsenburg, Colorado, is home to two schools: Peakview School, an elementary school, and Walsenburg Junior Senior High School. Both schools serve students in the Huerfano School District Re-1, which faces significant challenges in providing quality education to its predominantly Hispanic and economically disadvantaged student population.

Neither Peakview School nor Walsenburg Junior Senior High School appear to be standout performers, as both schools have significantly lower test scores compared to the state averages, particularly in Math. Peakview School's CMAS (Colorado Measures of Academic Success) ELA and Math proficiency rates are 19.4% and 5.4%, respectively, while Walsenburg Junior Senior High School's CMAS ELA and Math proficiency rates are 15.6% and 7.7%. Additionally, the high school's SAT, PSAT9, and PSAT10 Reading and Writing proficiency rates are well below the state averages.

The high rates of free and reduced lunch recipients, over 80% at both schools, indicate that the student population in Walsenburg comes from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, which could be a contributing factor to the low academic performance. Furthermore, the relatively high student-teacher ratios, 17.2 at Peakview School and 13.0 at Walsenburg Junior Senior High School, may make it more difficult for teachers to provide individualized attention and support to their students. Addressing these challenges, including the need for culturally responsive teaching practices and support systems, should be a priority for the district and local community to improve educational outcomes for the students in Walsenburg.