Total enrollment
1,628
-248 (-13%) vs SY 2020-21
Rio Grande County
Colorado · Public K-12
In Rio Grande County, Colorado, the public-school system rolls up to 11 schools and roughly 1,628 K-12 students, with county median household income around $64,411. By level, that breaks down as 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 5 high schools.
4-year change in Rio Grande County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
11
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Rio Grande County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Colorado | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 26.8% | #30 of 34 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,628 | #36 of 41 | #2,412 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 11 | #28 of 41 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.8:1 | #1 of 41 | #490 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 61.9% | #8 of 41 | #1,027 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 51.3% | #20 of 40 | #1,042 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.
Rio Grande County school rankings
Residents
11,321
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
11
3 districts
Enrollment
1,628
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$64,411
Below Colorado avg
Free/reduced lunch
61.9%
Above Colorado avg
Elementary
4
748 students
Middle
2
260 students
High
5
620 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Monte Vista School District No. C-8
975 students · 3 districts in Rio Grande County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Rio Grande 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+
34.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
13.4%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
10.1%
civilian labor
Median age
42
20.1% under 18
Test scores in Rio Grande County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Colorado state average: 44.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Del Norte High Jr./Sr. High School· 41.5%
- Sargent Elementary School· 36.8%
- SARGENT MIDDLE SCHOOL· 33.8%
- Bill Metz Elementary School· 32.3%
- Del Norte Elementary School· 27.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monte Vista Senior High School | Monte Vista | High | 09-12 | 272 | · |
| Bill Metz Elementary School | Monte Vista | Elementary | 02-05 | 253 | · |
| Monte Vista Middle School | Monte Vista | Middle | 06-08 | 190 | · |
| Del Norte Elementary School | Del Norte | Elementary | KG-06 | 187 | · |
| Del Norte High Jr./Sr. High School | Del Norte | High | 07-12 | 173 | · |
| Marsh Elementary School | Monte Vista | Elementary | PK-01 | 166 | · |
| Sargent Elementary School | Monte Vista | Elementary | KG-05 | 142 | · |
| Sargent Senior High School | Monte Vista | High | 09-12 | 81 | · |
| SARGENT MIDDLE SCHOOL | Monte Vista | Middle | 06-08 | 70 | · |
| Byron Syring Delta Center | Monte Vista | High | 09-12 | 51 | · |
| Monte Vista On-Line Academy | Monte Vista | High | 06-12 | 43 | · |
Cities in Rio Grande County
About Rio Grande County
Rio Grande County is a compact county of about 11,321 residents in Colorado. Its public-school system educates approximately 1,628 students across 11 schools.
Stepping back, census numbers show median household income runs near $64,411, 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 13%. That income level is 17% noticeably below the Colorado median.
On the school-mix side, Rio Grande County covers 4 elementary schools (748 students), 2 middle schools (260), and 5 high schools (620).
Monte Vista School District No. C-8 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 975 students across Rio Grande County.
Trend over the past 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 1,628 students, decreased 13% from the 1,876 reported in SY 2020-21.
On allk12, the community for Rio Grande County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data