Total enrollment
313
-84 (-21%) vs SY 2017-18
Custer County
Colorado · Public K-12
Custer County's public-school footprint spans 3 K-12 campuses with combined enrollment of about 313, the largest district being Custer County School District Consolidate 1. That works out to 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
7-year change in Custer County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
3
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
82%
was 92%
% Hispanic
10%
was 2%
% Black
1%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
3
1 districts
Enrollment
313
NCES CCD
Median income
$72,674
Below Colorado avg
Free/reduced lunch
50.5%
Above Colorado avg
Elementary
1
146 students
Middle
1
69 students
High
1
98 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Custer County School District Consolidate 1
313 students · 1 district in Custer County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Custer 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+
43.7%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.7%
civilian labor
Median age
58
13.7% under 18
Test scores in Custer County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 2 schools ranked. Colorado state average: 44.9%.
Top 2 schools (ELA)
- Custer County Elementary School· 47.9%
- Custer Middle School· 25.9%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custer County Elementary School | Westcliffe | Elementary | PK-05 | 146 | · |
| Custer County High School | Westcliffe | High | 09-12 | 98 | · |
| Custer Middle School | Westcliffe | Middle | 06-08 | 69 | · |
Cities in Custer County
About Custer County
Across the sparse Colorado county of Custer County of about 5,247 residents, the public-school footprint covers 3 schools and about 313 students.
In context, census numbers show median household income runs near $72,674, 44% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 8%. That income level is 6% meaningfully below the Colorado median.
For a sense of the school types, Custer County spans 1 elementary school (146 students), 1 middle school (69), and 1 high school (98).
Custer County School District Consolidate 1 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 313 students across Custer County.
Over the past 7-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Custer County has contracted 21% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 397 students to 313. Demographically, the White share of enrollment contracted from 92% to 82%.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Custer County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data