Lake Preschool

Lake Preschool, a tiny elementary school in GUNNISON, Colorado, operated by Gunnison Watershed School District Re1J, enrolls 74 students, covering grade pre-K. Enrollment runs roughly 80% smaller than the state mean of about 379.

Gunnison Watershed School District Re1J comprises 7 schools with combined enrollment of 2,095 students; Lake Preschool is among them.

Looking at the student body, Lake Preschool lists that White students make up the majority at 65%; the rest breaks down as 35% Hispanic. By comparison, Gunnison County as a whole is about 87% White, so the school skews considerably less White than its surroundings.

On the income-and-resources front, Staff filings list 1 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 148.0:1 students per teacher. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 16.6:1, putting Lake Preschool higher than the state norm the norm. Roughly 34% of students at Lake Preschool qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal.

Around the school, census data for Gunnison County shows median household earnings sit near $84,527, about 65% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 6%. Across Gunnison County's 7 public schools (combined enrollment of about 2,095 students), Lake Preschool is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Gunnison Elementary School, roughly 0.3 miles away. Within five miles, there are 3 other public schools.

The campus sits in a town-based setting.

Trend over the last 7 years. Lake Preschool's enrollment has stayed largely flat since 2018, when it stood at 75 (now 74). Over the same period, the Hispanic share grew from 29% to 35%. Class-load math has tightened: from 159.6:1 in 2018 to 148.0:1 in 2025.

On the community side, the feed for Lake Preschool typically covers classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.