Durango School District 9-R
Durango School District 9-R is Southwest Colorado's
largest school district with about 5,000 students
enrolled. The district offers a comprehensive, standards-based
curriculum guided by the Board of Education's Ends
Policies, the set of academic goals that identify
the knowledge areas and skills that the community
wants its students to attain. Because the board's
Ends Policies reflect community values, district academic
standards exceed standards mandated by the state of
Colorado. Regular assessments demonstrate that Durango
students consistently outperform students statewide
on standardized tests in reading, writing, math, and
science. In fact, the Colorado Department of Education
recently identified Durango's elementary reading program
as one of the best in the state.
The district's seven elementary schools teach children
in kindergarten through fifth grade. Six of the seven
schools offer a pre-school program. Three elementary
schools are located within Durango city limits; the
other four are located throughout western La Plata
County. Two middle schools, both in Durango, enroll
students in sixth through eighth grade. And a comprehensive
high school, also in Durango, includes grades 9-12.
The EXCEL Charter School serves students in grades
6-12. Student-to-teacher ratio district wide is 13-to-1,
including regular classroom teachers, aides, and specialists.
The average elementary class has 20 students.
In November 2002, voters approved an $84.5 million
construction bond to expand, repair, and renovate
the district's schools. They also approved a $2.4
million mill-levy override to fund program improvements,
provide salary increases for teachers and staff, and
fund long-term maintenance and repair. The mill-levey
offset recent state and federal budget cuts.
Check out the district's website at http://www.durango.k12.co.us
for school attendance areas, registration and enrollment
information, student achievement reports, and more,
or call the Public Information Office at
970-247-5411, ext. 1440.
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