The top reported proficiency rate is 64% in English language arts. The lowest is 27% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Liberty J-4 School District
Liberty J-4 School District serves a small, rural student population from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade in Yuma County, Colorado. The district operates a single school, Liberty School, which houses all grade levels. With a total enrollment that is very small, the district offers an intimate educational setting where students across a wide age range share the same campus.
The student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of Hispanic students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the district directly about these support structures.
On state assessments, the district's performance presents a mixed picture. In English language arts, a solid majority of students in grades three through eight scored at the proficient level or above, a result that positions the district well. In math, however, the share of students reaching proficiency was notably lower, a gap that a parent may want to explore further with the school. Science results for grades five and eight were suppressed, so no conclusion can be drawn there. When compared with other districts in Yuma County, Liberty J-4's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint of the three districts in the county.
The district's chronic absenteeism rate is low, and it ranks favorably in that measure among Yuma County's districts. Per-pupil current spending is in the upper range of the county's districts, which may reflect the costs of operating a small, rural school system. A graduation rate was not available in the data, so that metric could not be assessed.
The district operates a single school, Liberty School, which serves all grades from pre-kindergarten through twelve. The enrollment is very small, with a handful of students in each grade level. This means that class sizes are tiny and students receive a high degree of individual attention, but it also means that course offerings, extracurriculars, and peer group size are limited by the small numbers. A student's graduating class will be very small.
Housing in the area is notably more affordable than the state average. Home values in the district's coverage area, which includes parts of Yuma, Kirk, and Stratton, are well below Colorado's typical home price. The weighted home value across the district's ZIP codes has seen modest appreciation over the past year. The national median household income benchmark provides context for affordability, though local income data for the district itself was not available.
A search for recent district-level changes such as referendums, curriculum shifts, or property tax changes did not turn up any evidence of lasting parent-relevant developments. The district appears to have been operating without major publicized changes in the recent period.
For a family considering this district, the central reality is its size. The school is very small, which means close relationships between students and staff, a high degree of individual attention, and a setting where every student is known. It also means limited course variety, a small peer group, and fewer extracurricular options than a larger district would offer. The academic picture is mixed: English language arts results are solid, while math results are an area a parent would want to discuss with the school. The district spends well above the county median per pupil, which is typical for a small rural system where fixed costs are spread over few students. The chronic absenteeism rate is low, suggesting strong daily attendance. For a family that values a tight-knit, rural school environment and is comfortable with the trade-offs that come with very small enrollment, Liberty J-4 offers a straightforward, no-frills educational setting.
See more original research from School Decision →