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Ouray County

Colorado · Public K-12

6 public K-12 schools, roughly 500 students, one county, 5,087 residents. That is Ouray County, Colorado on the numbers. The level mix is 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.

4-year change in Ouray County

SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
500
-21 (-4%) vs SY 2020-21
School count
6
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
5,087
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
6
2 districts
Enrollment
500
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$91,020
Above Colorado avg
Free/reduced lunch
27.8%
Below Colorado avg
Elementary
2
228 students
Middle
2
129 students
High
2
143 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Ridgway School District R-2
320 students · 2 districts in Ouray County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Ouray 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
90%
Hispanic
6%
Black
2%
Asian
1%
Two or more
8%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
79%
Hispanic
14%
Black
1%
Asian
2%
Two or more
3%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
56.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.5%
civilian labor
Median age
55
12.6% under 18

Test scores in Ouray County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 3 schools ranked. Colorado state average: 44.9%.

See all 3 schools in Ouray County ranked by score →

All schools (6)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Ridgway Elementary SchoolRidgwayElementaryPK-05149·
Ridgway High SchoolRidgwayHigh09-1297·
Ouray Elementary SchoolOurayElementaryPK-0479·
Ridgway Middle SchoolRidgwayMiddle06-0874·
Ouray Middle SchoolOurayMiddle05-0855·
Ouray Senior High SchoolOurayHigh09-1246·

Cities in Ouray County

Ouray3 schoolsRidgway3 schools

About Ouray County

Ouray County is a small county of about 5,087 residents in Colorado. Its public-school system instructs approximately 500 students across 6 schools.

Stepping back, census numbers show median household income runs near $91,020, 57% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 4%. That income level is 18% higher than the Colorado median.

On the level-by-level breakdown, Ouray County is made up of 2 elementary schools (228 students), 2 middle schools (129), and 2 high schools (143).

The largest single district in Ouray County is Ridgway School District R-2, which alone enrolls about 320 students.

Trend over the past 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment contracted 4%: 521 students in SY 2020-21 versus 500 in SY 2024-25.

In the discussion threads here, the community for Ouray County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Ouray County?
Ouray County, Colorado has 6 public K-12 schools serving approximately 500 students.
How many high schools are in Ouray County?
Ouray County, Colorado has 2 public high schools, serving approximately 143 students.
How many middle schools are in Ouray County?
Ouray County, Colorado has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 129 students.
How many elementary schools are in Ouray County?
Ouray County, Colorado has 2 public elementary schools, serving approximately 228 students.
What is the largest school district in Ouray County?
Ridgway School District R-2 is the largest school district in Ouray County, serving approximately 320 students. The county contains 2 school districts overall.
What is the population of Ouray County?
Ouray County, Colorado has a population of approximately 5,087, with a median age of 55. About 12.6% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Ouray County?
Median household income in Ouray County is $91,020, above the Colorado average of $77,440. About 4.2% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Ouray County?
Approximately 56.5% of adults 25 and older in Ouray County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Ouray County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 27.8% of students in Ouray County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Colorado county average of 50.3%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Ouray County schools?
Across Ouray County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 10.1 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data