Total enrollment
1,342
-39 (-3%) vs SY 2020-21
Kit Carson County
Colorado · Public K-12
For a Colorado county, Kit Carson County operates a compact public-school system: 9 schools and 1,342 students, broken out as 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high.
4-year change in Kit Carson County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
9
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Kit Carson County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Colorado | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 22.5% | #34 of 34 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,342 | #39 of 41 | #2,556 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 9 | #30 of 41 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.5:1 | #3 of 41 | #711 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 54.4% | #17 of 41 | #1,386 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 49.5% | #25 of 40 | #1,121 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Kit Carson County school rankings
Residents
7,023
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
9
5 districts
Enrollment
1,342
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$70,259
Below Colorado avg
Free/reduced lunch
54.4%
Above Colorado avg
Elementary
2
421 students
Middle
2
260 students
High
2
280 students
Combined / other
3
381 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Burlington Public School District No. RE-6J
742 students · 5 districts in Kit Carson County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Kit Carson 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+
20.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.4%
civilian labor
Median age
40
26.1% under 18
Test scores in Kit Carson County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 7 schools ranked. Colorado state average: 44.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Flagler Public School· 48.6%
- Stratton Elementary School· 31.7%
- Burlington Elementary School· 29.5%
- Burlington Middle School· 29.3%
- Hi-Plains School District R-23· 23.7%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Bethune Public Schools· 15.0%
- Stratton Middle School· 18.0%
- Hi-Plains School District R-23· 23.7%
- Burlington Middle School· 29.3%
- Burlington Elementary School· 29.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington Elementary School | Burlington | Elementary | PK-04 | 320 | · |
| Burlington High School | Burlington | High | 09-12 | 216 | · |
| Burlington Middle School | Burlington | Middle | 05-08 | 206 | · |
| Flagler Public School | Flagler | Combined | PK-12 | 186 | · |
| Stratton Elementary School | Stratton | Elementary | PK-05 | 101 | · |
| Bethune Public Schools | Bethune | Combined | PK-12 | 99 | · |
| Hi-Plains School District R-23 | Seibert | Combined | PK-12 | 96 | · |
| Stratton Senior High School | Stratton | High | 09-12 | 64 | · |
| Stratton Middle School | Stratton | Middle | 06-08 | 54 | · |
Cities in Kit Carson County
About Kit Carson County
In Colorado, Kit Carson County is a sparse county of about 7,023 residents. 9 public schools across the county instructs about 1,342 students between them.
Zooming out, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $70,259, roughly 20% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 9% lower than the Colorado median.
On the school-mix side, Kit Carson County is built around 2 elementary schools (421 students), 2 middle schools (260), 2 high schools (280), and 3 combined or other schools.
Burlington Public School District No. RE-6J is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 742 students across Kit Carson County.
Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Kit Carson County has fell 3% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 1,381 students to 1,342.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Kit Carson County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. 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