Total enrollment
2,462
+59 (+2%) vs SY 2017-18
Chaffee County
Colorado · Public K-12
Chaffee County reports 12 public K-12 schools and roughly 2,462 students enrolled, per NCES, with a mix of 5 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high.
7-year change in Chaffee County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
12
+1 (+9%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
80%
was 82%
% Hispanic
15%
was 13%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
12
3 districts
Enrollment
2,462
NCES CCD
Median income
$84,132
Above Colorado avg
Free/reduced lunch
37.2%
Below Colorado avg
Elementary
5
1,152 students
Middle
3
598 students
High
4
712 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Salida School District No. R-32
1,351 students · 3 districts in Chaffee County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Chaffee County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
47.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.8%
civilian labor
Median age
49
13.9% under 18
Test scores in Chaffee County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 6 schools ranked. Colorado state average: 44.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Crest Academy· 78.9%
- Salida Middle School· 65.5%
- Longfellow Elementary School· 61.9%
- Salida Montessori Charter School· 60.8%
- Buena Vista Middle School· 47.8%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Avery/Parsons Elementary School· 38.8%
- Buena Vista Middle School· 47.8%
- Salida Montessori Charter School· 60.8%
- Longfellow Elementary School· 61.9%
- Salida Middle School· 65.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longfellow Elementary School | Salida | Elementary | KG-04 | 449 | · |
| Salida High School | Salida | High | 09-12 | 409 | · |
| Avery/Parsons Elementary School | Buena Vista | Elementary | KG-05 | 383 | · |
| Salida Middle School | Salida | Middle | 05-08 | 327 | · |
| Buena Vista High School | Buena Vista | High | 09-12 | 256 | · |
| Buena Vista Middle School | Buena Vista | Middle | 06-08 | 211 | · |
| Salida Montessori Charter School | Salida | Elementary | PK-08 | 186 | · |
| Salida Early Childhood Center | Salida | Elementary | PK-PK | 74 | · |
| Crest Academy | Salida | Middle | 05-08 | 60 | · |
| The Grove BVSD's Early Learning Program | Buena Vista | Elementary | PK-PK | 60 | · |
| Horizons Exploratory Academy | Salida | High | 09-12 | 32 | · |
| Chaffee County High School | Buena Vista | High | 07-12 | 15 | · |
Cities in Chaffee County
About Chaffee County
Chaffee County is a small Colorado county of about 20,178 residents, home to 12 public schools and roughly 2,462 students.
Stepping back, census numbers show median household income runs near $84,132, about 47% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 5%. That income level is 9% meaningfully above the Colorado median.
On the school-mix side, Chaffee County consists of 5 elementary schools (1,152 students), 3 middle schools (598), and 4 high schools (712).
Salida School District No. R-32 dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,351 students on its own.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 2,462 students, stayed largely flat from the 2,403 reported in SY 2017-18. The school count climbed from 11 to 12 across the same 7-year window.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Chaffee County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Chaffee County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data