What Colorado School Districts Spend Per Student
The median Colorado school district spends $14,690 per student per year, $147 above the national median of $14,543, across all 180 districts the state reports. The 178 of them a ZIP code can reach are listed below, and their 856,067 students account for $11.4 billion of current spending in fiscal year 2022.
Colorado at a Glance
| Median district, per student | $14,690 |
|---|---|
| National median district | $14,543 |
| Districts listed | 178 of 180 |
| Students listed | 856,067 |
| Median district, math | ≈27% |
| Median district, reading | ≈42% |
Every Colorado District, by Enrollment
Spending is current spending divided by fall membership for fiscal year 2022. Proficiency and graduation rates are school year 2018-19, the last year before the pandemic interrupted state testing, so the money and the results are not from the same year. A figure marked ≈ is one the federal file published as a range rather than a value, so small groups of children stay unidentifiable; it is the middle of that range and within ten points of the real one. A dash means the federal files publish no value under that district's ID. 2 further Colorado districts are missing because the federal boundary file places them in no ZIP code, which is normal for charter and virtual districts with no attendance area.
| District | Students | Per student | Math | Reading | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver County School District 1 | 88,911 | $15,336 | 33% | 43% | 71% |
| Jefferson County School District R-1 | 76,904 | $13,124 | 41% | 54% | 85% |
| Douglas County School District RE-1 | 63,596 | $11,848 | 48% | 59% | 92% |
| Cherry Creek School District 5 | 53,587 | $14,137 | 44% | 53% | 90% |
| Adams-Arapahoe School District 28J | 38,451 | $16,314 | 18% | 27% | 76% |
| Adams 12 Five Star Schools | 36,078 | $13,222 | 35% | 46% | 83% |
| St. Vrain Valley School District RE 1J | 32,384 | $12,559 | 40% | 51% | 86% |
| Poudre School District R-1 | 29,907 | $13,223 | 52% | 62% | 83% |
| Boulder Valley School District RE-2 | 29,008 | $15,316 | 52% | 63% | 91% |
| Academy School District 20 | 26,050 | $10,954 | 50% | 64% | 93% |
| School District 49 | 24,766 | $10,145 | 31% | 48% | 49% |
| Colorado Springs School District 11 | 23,359 | $14,342 | 28% | 41% | 71% |
| Greeley School District 6 | 21,997 | $12,298 | 22% | 35% | 82% |
| Mesa County Valley School District 51 | 21,327 | $11,650 | 25% | 38% | 80% |
| School District 27J | 20,357 | $10,462 | 28% | 39% | 84% |
| Thompson School District R-2J | 15,280 | $15,018 | 35% | 48% | 81% |
| Pueblo City School District 60 | 15,143 | $12,481 | 20% | 33% | 82% |
| Littleton School District 6 | 13,698 | $13,988 | 53% | 66% | 92% |
| Harrison School District 2 | 13,002 | $11,944 | 29% | 42% | 83% |
| Pueblo County School District 70 | 10,232 | $10,558 | 28% | 45% | 92% |
| Widefield School District 3 | 9,369 | $11,395 | 31% | 48% | 81% |
| Mapleton School District 1 | 9,002 | $13,143 | 18% | 30% | 69% |
| Westminster Public School District | 8,320 | $16,062 | 16% | 27% | 69% |
| Fountain School District 8 | 8,302 | $12,970 | 30% | 45% | 85% |
| Windsor School District RE-4 | 8,104 | $10,199 | 41% | 56% | 94% |
| Eagle County School District RE 50 | 6,687 | $14,849 | 30% | 46% | 85% |
| Lewis-Palmer School District 38 | 6,526 | $10,492 | 53% | 65% | 97% |
| Adams County School District 14 | 6,114 | $14,314 | 13% | 21% | 63% |
| Montrose County School District RE-1J | 6,055 | $10,606 | 27% | 43% | 74% |
| Durango School District 9-R | 5,794 | $11,863 | 31% | 50% | 73% |
| Byers School District 32J | 5,352 | $8,546 | 25% | 39% | ≈57% |
| Roaring Fork School District RE-1 | 5,306 | $14,795 | 31% | 41% | 87% |
| Garfield School District RE-2 | 4,613 | $12,122 | 23% | 37% | 84% |
| Delta County School District 50J | 4,610 | $12,649 | 30% | 47% | 87% |
| Johnstown-Milliken School District RE-5J | 3,783 | $11,639 | 26% | 36% | 91% |
| Cheyenne Mountain School District 12 | 3,663 | $11,912 | 61% | 72% | 96% |
| Summit School District RE-1 | 3,620 | $14,778 | 34% | 50% | 95% |
| Fort Morgan School District RE-3 | 3,381 | $10,987 | 22% | 32% | 78% |
| Fremont RE-1 | 3,321 | $12,716 | 25% | 42% | 84% |
| Weld County School District RE-3J | 2,693 | $12,612 | 25% | 35% | ≈82% |
| Steamboat Springs School District RE-2 | 2,640 | $15,196 | 58% | 71% | ≈92% |
| Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1 | 2,607 | $11,473 | 18% | 34% | 74% |
| Weld County School District RE-8 | 2,482 | $12,774 | 23% | 29% | ≈87% |
| Englewood School District 1 | 2,440 | $17,050 | 23% | 35% | 50% |
| Elizabeth School District | 2,330 | $11,990 | 32% | 50% | ≈82% |
| Alamosa School District RE-11J | 2,188 | $11,228 | 24% | 36% | ≈82% |
| Moffat County School District RE-1 | 2,090 | $12,071 | 19% | 38% | ≈77% |
| Gunnison Watershed School District RE-1J | 2,080 | $12,701 | 34% | 50% | ≈92% |
| Valley School District RE-1 | 1,996 | $11,139 | 32% | 43% | ≈82% |
| Weld County School District No. RE-2 | 1,994 | $10,860 | 46% | 57% | ≈98% |
| Weld County School District RE-1 | 1,892 | $15,088 | 27% | 40% | ≈92% |
| Woodland Park School District RE-2 | 1,804 | $14,363 | 31% | 49% | ≈82% |
| Archuleta County School District 50-JT | 1,712 | $12,212 | 27% | 37% | ≈82% |
| Aspen School District 1 | 1,652 | $22,399 | 41% | 59% | ≈92% |
| Lamar School District RE-2 | 1,573 | $9,479 | 26% | 35% | ≈92% |
| Fremont RE-2 | 1,425 | $10,160 | 22% | 40% | ≈87% |
| Brush School District RE-2J | 1,394 | $15,174 | 18% | 29% | ≈92% |
| East Otero School District R-1 | 1,358 | $13,362 | 9% | 21% | ≈87% |
| Manitou Springs School District 14 | 1,329 | $14,783 | 30% | 48% | ≈92% |
| Salida School District R-32 | 1,312 | $13,598 | 49% | 59% | ≈82% |
| Bayfield School District 10 JT-R | 1,311 | $13,174 | 22% | 42% | ≈92% |
| East Grand School District 2 | 1,286 | $16,335 | 38% | 54% | ≈87% |
| Bennett School District 29-J | 1,249 | $10,252 | 23% | 40% | ≈87% |
| Garfield County School District 16 | 1,225 | $12,462 | 15% | 25% | ≈82% |
| Sheridan School District 2 | 1,177 | $19,752 | 10% | 19% | ≈72% |
| Strasburg School District 31J | 1,171 | $9,777 | 36% | 47% | ≈87% |
| Platte Valley School District RE-7 | 1,078 | $15,400 | 32% | 48% | ≈98% |
| Monte Vista School District C-8 | 1,074 | $11,711 | 13% | 25% | ≈82% |
| Estes Park School District R-3 | 1,058 | $14,903 | 23% | 43% | ≈92% |
| Buena Vista School District R-31 | 1,051 | $13,814 | 32% | 44% | ≈82% |
| Ault-Highland School District RE-9 | 1,013 | $10,570 | 25% | 30% | ≈92% |
| Lake County School District R-1 | 1,007 | $16,023 | 20% | 30% | ≈67% |
| North Conejos School District RE-1J | 1,005 | $10,600 | 36% | 54% | ≈87% |
| Ellicott School District 22 | 1,001 | $12,332 | 26% | 43% | ≈87% |
| Telluride School District R-1 | 876 | $18,870 | 49% | 67% | ≈98% |
| Yuma School District 1 | 876 | $11,717 | 26% | 35% | ≈92% |
| Platte Canyon School District 1 | 837 | $12,271 | 40% | 56% | ≈82% |
| Las Animas School District RE-1 | 826 | $14,961 | 11% | 22% | 68% |
| Wiggins School District RE-50J | 819 | $10,537 | 24% | 38% | ≈95% |
| Trinidad School District 1 | 789 | $13,991 | 15% | 30% | ≈72% |
| Julesburg School District RE-1 | 775 | $9,525 | ≈17% | ≈52% | ≈82% |
| Burlington School District RE-6J | 749 | $10,242 | 14% | 29% | ≈92% |
| Wray School District RD-2 | 745 | $12,766 | 40% | 48% | ≈85% |
| Dolores School District RE-4A | 726 | $11,920 | 27% | 39% | ≈85% |
| Meeker School District RE1 | 718 | $12,727 | 51% | 51% | ≈95% |
| Clear Creek School District RE-1 | 696 | $18,688 | 31% | 40% | ≈82% |
| Rocky Ford School District R-2 | 676 | $15,993 | 22% | 39% | ≈95% |
| Ignacio School District 11-JT | 640 | $19,352 | 9% | 23% | ≈75% |
| Center School District 26-JT | 617 | $18,948 | 15% | 34% | ≈75% |
| Peyton School District 23-JT | 609 | $13,225 | 40% | 56% | ≈82% |
| Park County School District RE-2 | 596 | $16,183 | 25% | 39% | ≈95% |
| Holyoke School District RE-1J | 576 | $13,349 | 22% | 41% | ≈85% |
| Huerfano School District RE-1 | 512 | $18,125 | 9% | 24% | ≈75% |
| Branson Reorganized School District 82 | 502 | $9,516 | ≈27% | ≈42% | ≈85% |
| Rangely School District RE-4 | 494 | $14,057 | 28% | 33% | ≈85% |
| Mancos School District RE-6 | 485 | $12,885 | ≈25% | ≈45% | ≈90% |
| Limon School District RE-4J | 448 | $13,292 | 24% | 61% | ≈95% |
| Calhan School District RJ-1 | 446 | $12,993 | 27% | 39% | ≈95% |
| Gilpin County School District RE-1 | 437 | $15,140 | 35% | 60% | ≈70% |
| Hayden School District RE-1 | 435 | $15,531 | ≈17% | ≈42% | ≈90% |
| Akron School District R-1 | 411 | $13,387 | ≈22% | ≈32% | ≈85% |
| Crowley County School District RE-1-J | 403 | $15,037 | 16% | 28% | ≈85% |
| Upper Rio Grande School District C-7 | 403 | $15,926 | 18% | 23% | ≈95% |
| West Grand School District 1-JT | 393 | $17,534 | 21% | 37% | ≈95% |
| Sanford School District 6J | 369 | $12,837 | ≈37% | ≈52% | ≈95% |
| Fowler School District R-4J | 366 | $13,101 | 29% | 41% | ≈95% |
| Custer County School District C-1 | 361 | $13,864 | ≈32% | ≈52% | ≈90% |
| Cripple Creek-Victor School District RE-1 | 351 | $22,228 | ≈12% | ≈27% | ≈70% |
| Haxtun School District RE-2J | 339 | $13,572 | ≈27% | ≈37% | ≈90% |
| Ridgway School District R-2 | 335 | $17,937 | ≈52% | ≈62% | ≈90% |
| South Routt School District RE-3 | 335 | $20,893 | ≈37% | ≈57% | ≈90% |
| Sargent School District RE-33J | 330 | $14,776 | ≈22% | ≈57% | ≈90% |
| Big Sandy School District 100J | 325 | $15,855 | ≈47% | ≈67% | ≈90% |
| Hoehne Reorganized School District 3 | 314 | $11,742 | 27% | 37% | ≈90% |
| Miami-Yoder School District 60-JT | 313 | $17,585 | ≈17% | ≈32% | ≈90% |
| Swink School District 33 | 311 | $14,141 | ≈52% | ≈62% | ≈90% |
| Buffalo School District RE-4 | 305 | $15,475 | ≈25% | ≈55% | ≈90% |
| Plateau Valley School District 50 | 305 | $16,859 | ≈22% | ≈37% | ≈47% |
| Deer Trail School District 26J | 295 | $11,817 | ≈12% | ≈22% | — |
| Hanover School District 28 | 283 | $16,085 | ≈17% | ≈42% | — |
| Elbert School District 200 | 281 | $13,345 | ≈12% | ≈32% | ≈90% |
| Springfield School District RE-4 | 278 | $13,978 | ≈22% | ≈27% | ≈90% |
| Kiowa School District C-2 | 276 | $13,826 | ≈27% | ≈47% | — |
| Holly School District RE-3 | 275 | $13,724 | ≈17% | ≈27% | ≈90% |
| West End School District RE-2 | 272 | $16,588 | ≈17% | ≈22% | ≈90% |
| Wiley School District RE-13-JT | 262 | $14,603 | ≈22% | ≈42% | ≈90% |
| Sierra Grande School District R-30 | 259 | $18,490 | ≈22% | ≈27% | ≈90% |
| Dolores County School District RE-2 | 254 | $16,075 | ≈8% | ≈22% | — |
| Sangre de Cristo School District RE-22J | 246 | $17,772 | ≈32% | ≈57% | ≈90% |
| McClave School District RE-2 | 237 | $16,684 | ≈47% | ≈47% | ≈90% |
| Cheraw School District 31 | 231 | $14,065 | ≈27% | ≈32% | — |
| Stratton School District R-4 | 231 | $14,134 | ≈27% | ≈37% | ≈90% |
| Primero Reorganized School District 2 | 228 | $17,996 | ≈37% | ≈57% | — |
| Weldon Valley School District RE-20J | 225 | $14,036 | ≈12% | ≈32% | ≈90% |
| Kiowa County School District No. RE-1 | 219 | $12,073 | ≈67% | ≈67% | — |
| Frenchman School District RE-3 | 217 | $53,783 | ≈27% | ≈42% | — |
| Moffat School District 2 | 217 | $24,903 | ≈12% | ≈32% | ≈90% |
| Genoa-Hugo School District C-113 | 213 | $13,845 | ≈22% | ≈27% | — |
| Otis School District R-3 | 211 | $15,754 | ≈27% | ≈37% | ≈90% |
| Fremont RE-3 | 208 | $16,567 | ≈27% | ≈52% | — |
| La Veta School District RE-2 | 207 | $20,729 | ≈27% | ≈37% | — |
| Centennial School District R-1 | 203 | $19,005 | ≈8% | ≈22% | ≈90% |
| Norwood School District R-2J | 199 | $19,020 | ≈32% | ≈52% | ≈90% |
| Granada School District RE-1 | 196 | $17,378 | ≈42% | ≈47% | ≈90% |
| Prairie School District RE-11 | 191 | $15,979 | ≈37% | ≈42% | — |
| Ouray School District R-1 | 189 | $18,735 | ≈52% | ≈67% | ≈90% |
| Cheyenne County School District RE-5 | 188 | $16,766 | ≈25% | ≈45% | — |
| Briggsdale School District RE-10 | 186 | $21,081 | ≈30% | ≈50% | ≈90% |
| Idalia School District RJ-3 | 186 | $17,672 | ≈32% | ≈57% | — |
| Mountain Valley School District RE-1 | 185 | $19,746 | ≈8% | ≈12% | — |
| North Park School District R-1 | 172 | $18,192 | ≈17% | ≈32% | — |
| De Beque School District 49-JT | 170 | $15,959 | ≈17% | ≈42% | ≈90% |
| Walsh School District RE-1 | 161 | $28,335 | ≈37% | ≈62% | — |
| Plateau School District RE-5 | 158 | $21,304 | ≈32% | ≈47% | — |
| Hi-Plains School District R-23 | 153 | $16,745 | ≈25% | ≈35% | — |
| Manzanola School District 3J | 150 | $19,260 | ≈22% | ≈32% | — |
| South Conejos School District RE-10 | 149 | $26,154 | ≈12% | ≈22% | — |
| Arriba-Flagler School District C-20 | 139 | $22,770 | ≈22% | ≈37% | — |
| Revere School District | 133 | $19,256 | — | — | — |
| Lone Star School District 101 | 125 | $17,024 | — | — | — |
| Aguilar Reorganized School District 6 | 114 | $24,491 | ≈5% | ≈25% | — |
| Edison School District 54-JT | 112 | $20,464 | ≈62% | ≈62% | ≈65% |
| Bethune School District R-5 | 108 | $21,935 | ≈25% | ≈25% | — |
| Arickaree School District R-2 | 101 | $26,832 | ≈22% | ≈37% | — |
| Kit Carson School District R-1 | 99 | $26,404 | — | — | — |
| Silverton School District 1 | 86 | $26,477 | ≈10% | ≈30% | — |
| Agate School District 300 | 84 | $20,298 | ≈10% | ≈10% | — |
| Vilas School District RE-5 | 84 | $29,060 | ≈10% | ≈30% | — |
| Creede School District | 78 | $30,577 | ≈25% | ≈45% | — |
| Hinsdale County School District RE-1 | 77 | $27,143 | ≈30% | ≈50% | — |
| Woodlin School District R-104 | 72 | $31,639 | ≈5% | ≈25% | — |
| Pawnee School District RE-12 | 70 | $27,643 | ≈35% | ≈45% | — |
| Pritchett School District RE-3 | 66 | $19,136 | — | — | — |
| Liberty School District J-4 | 64 | $23,812 | ≈30% | ≈70% | — |
| Campo School District RE-6 | 51 | $30,216 | ≈30% | ≈30% | — |
| Karval School District RE-23 | 43 | $30,163 | ≈50% | ≈70% | — |
| Plainview School District RE-2 | 38 | $38,316 | ≈15% | ≈15% | — |
| Kim Reorganized School District 88 | 32 | $39,812 | ≈50% | ≈70% | — |
Sources
Spending and enrollment come from the NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33) for fiscal year 2022. Proficiency and graduation rates come from EDFacts for school year 2018-19. Districts are matched to ZIP codes through the NCES EDGE geographic relationship file. Nothing on this page is estimated or modelled: a figure is read from a federal source file or it is left blank.
Questions About Colorado School Spending
How much does the average Colorado school district spend per student?
The middle, or median, Colorado district spent $14,690 per student in fiscal year 2022, $147 above the national median of $14,543. The median is the better summary here: a few very small districts spend several times what a large one does, and an average would follow them. That median covers all 180 districts the state reports. Across the 178 a ZIP code can reach, which are the ones listed on this page, 856,067 students account for $11.4 billion of current spending.
Which Colorado districts spend the most and least per student?
Frenchman School District RE-3 reports the highest figure in the table at $53,783 per student for 217 students, and Byers School District 32J the lowest at $8,546 for 5,352 students. Enrollment is the denominator, so a small district with one building and one bus route honestly produces a high figure; read the two columns together.
Why are some Colorado districts missing from this table?
Colorado has 180 districts with federal finance data and 178 of them appear here. The rest are placed in no ZIP code by the federal boundary file, which is normal for charter and virtual school districts that have no attendance area, so there is no ZIP code a reader could use to find them.
Does this money follow a child who is homeschooled?
No. The figure is what the district spends on a seat in its own schools, funded from local property tax, state formula aid and federal programs. Withdrawing a child removes the child from the count rather than sending the money home. TheHomeschoolingCompany is $1,788 for one student for a school year by comparison, less for each child after the first.
Look Up Your Own District
Enter a ZIP code and the calculator returns the district that serves it, what it spends per student, how its students score, and what the same school year costs at home.
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Spending Per Student in Other States
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