Elementary Schools in Delta County Joint District No. 50

The Delta County Joint District No. 50 in Colorado is home to 8 elementary schools serving students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade, with the majority being traditional elementary schools (grades K-5). While the schools vary in size, with student populations ranging from 114 to 488, a few standout institutions demonstrate exceptional academic performance and innovative educational approaches.

At the top of the list is Paonia K-8, which consistently outperforms the district and state averages on CMAS (Colorado Measures of Academic Success) tests across all grade levels and subjects. This school earned a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger and ranked 135th out of 943 Colorado elementary schools in 2023-2024. Similarly, North Fork Montessori @ Crawford and North Fork School of Integrated Studies also demonstrate strong academic achievement, with the latter school boasting impressive CMAS proficiency rates of 72.5% in English Language Arts and 47.5% in Math.

In contrast, some schools within the Delta County Joint District No. 50 lag behind the district and state averages on CMAS assessments, suggesting a need to investigate the factors contributing to these performance gaps. The varying free and reduced-price lunch rates across the schools may indicate differences in the socioeconomic backgrounds of the student populations, which could be a contributing factor to the observed disparities. By addressing these equity concerns and replicating the successful practices of the standout schools, the district can work to ensure all students have access to a high-quality education.