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Otero County

Colorado · Public K-12

Otero County, Colorado operates 15 public K-12 schools today, enrolling approximately 3,027 students (about 202 per campus). That works out to 7 elementary, 1 middle, and 6 high schools.

7-year change in Otero County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
2,875
-446 (-13%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
14
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
41%
was 40%
% Hispanic
56%
was 57%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
15
6 districts
Enrollment
3,027
NCES CCD
Median income
$54,037
Below Colorado avg
Free/reduced lunch
71.2%
Above Colorado avg
Elementary
7
1,535 students
Middle
1
58 students
High
6
1,225 students
Combined / other
1
209 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
East Otero School District No. R1
1,284 students · 6 districts in Otero County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Otero 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
White
67%
Hispanic
42%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
15%
Native American
2%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
40%
Hispanic
57%
Black
1%
Asian
0%
Two or more
2%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
18.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
14.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.7%
civilian labor
Median age
42
23.1% under 18

Test scores in Otero County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 10 schools ranked. Colorado state average: 44.9%.

See all 10 schools in Otero County ranked by score →

All schools (15)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
La Junta Jr/Sr High SchoolLa JuntaHigh07-12501·
La Junta Intermediate SchoolLa JuntaElementary03-06397·
Rocky Ford Elementary SchoolRocky FordElementaryKG-06305·
La Junta Primary SchoolLa JuntaElementaryKG-02296·
Rocky Ford Junior/Senior High SchoolRocky FordHigh07-12271·
Cheraw SchoolCherawCombinedPK-12209·
Fowler Elementary SchoolFowlerElementaryKG-06183·
Swink Junior-Senior High SchoolSwinkHigh06-12159·
Washington Primary SchoolRocky FordElementaryPK-02152·
Swink Elementary SchoolSwinkElementaryKG-05131·
Manzanola Junior-Senior High SchoolManzanolaHigh06-12103·
Fowler High SchoolFowlerHigh09-12101·
Tiger Trades AcademyLa JuntaHigh05-1290·
Manzanola Elementary SchoolManzanolaElementaryPK-0571·
Fowler Junior High SchoolFowlerMiddle07-0858·

Cities in Otero County

La Junta4 schoolsFowler3 schoolsRocky Ford3 schoolsManzanola2 schoolsSwink2 schoolsCheraw1 school

About Otero County

Across the compact Colorado county of Otero County of about 18,321 residents, the public-school footprint covers 15 schools and about 3,027 students.

Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show median household income runs near $54,037, 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 15%. That income level is 30% below the Colorado median.

On the school-mix side, Otero County is made up of 7 elementary schools (1,535 students), 1 middle school (58), 6 high schools (1,225), and 1 combined or other schools.

East Otero School District No. R1 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,284 students across Otero County.

Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 2,875 students, fell 13% from the 3,321 reported in SY 2017-18.

On allk12, the community for Otero County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Otero County?
There are 15 public K-12 schools in Otero County, Colorado, with a combined enrollment of about 3,027.
How many high schools are in Otero County?
Otero County, Colorado has 6 public high schools, serving approximately 1,225 students.
How many middle schools are in Otero County?
Otero County, Colorado has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 58 students.
How many elementary schools are in Otero County?
Otero County, Colorado has 7 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,535 students.
What is the largest school district in Otero County?
East Otero School District No. R1 is the largest school district in Otero County, serving approximately 1,284 students. The county contains 6 school districts overall.
How many people live in Otero County?
Otero County has roughly 18,321 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Otero County?
Median household income in Otero County is $54,037, below the Colorado average of $77,440. About 14.5% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Otero County?
Approximately 18.2% of adults 25 and older in Otero County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Otero County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 71.2% of students in Otero County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Colorado county average of 50.3%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Otero County schools?
Across Otero County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 12.9 to 1.

Otero County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data