Best Public Schools in Westcliffe, CO

The city of Westcliffe, Colorado is home to three schools: Custer County Elementary School, Custer County High School, and Custer Middle School, all part of the Custer County School District Consolidate 1. While the schools have relatively small class sizes, they face challenges with low academic proficiency, particularly in math, and declining statewide rankings.

Among the standout schools, Custer County Elementary School has the highest enrollment and a higher percentage of white students compared to the district and state averages. However, the school struggles with low proficiency rates in CMAS English Language Arts and Math. In contrast, Custer County High School performs better than the other two schools, with higher PSAT and SAT scores, though its statewide ranking has declined in recent years.

Across all three schools, the proficiency rates in CMAS/PSAT/SAT tests are significantly lower than the state averages, particularly in math. This gap in academic performance is a concern, and the district may benefit from investigating the underlying factors and implementing targeted strategies to improve student outcomes. Additionally, the lack of racial diversity in the schools may limit students' exposure to different cultures and perspectives.