Aspen School District No. 1 in the County of Pitkin and Sta, CO

Original Research by School Decision on Aspen School District No. 1 in the County of Pitkin and Sta

Aspen School District No. 1 serves the towns of Aspen, Snowmass Village, and Woody Creek, covering preschool through twelfth grade. The district runs five schools: an elementary school, a middle school, a high school, a preschool, and a single charter school. The student body is majority white, with a Hispanic population that makes up a substantial share of the enrollment, and small numbers of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Data on the share of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch was not reported, so it is not possible to draw conclusions about the economic diversity of the student population from that measure.

Academically, the district performs well on Colorado's state assessments. In math and English language arts for grades three through eight, the share of students scoring proficient or above was solidly above the state average. English language arts results were particularly strong, with more than half of students meeting the bar. In science, proficiency rates were above the state average at both the tested grade levels. Past social studies data is available but dated, and a parent may want to ask the district for more current results in that subject. Overall, the district's academic profile reflects a high-performing system on the measures the state provides.

The district's approach to teaching and learning is distinctive. It operates as an International Baccalaureate (IB) system, with authorization for both the Primary Years Programme and the Middle Years Programme. This gives families a consistent, inquiry-based curricular framework from elementary through middle school. The district is also working to strengthen its Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and improve the consistency of instruction and progress monitoring across all schools. These are active improvement efforts aimed at addressing uneven student outcomes and ensuring that multilingual learners and students with disabilities receive more equitable support.

The community context is defined by extreme housing costs. Home values in the district are exceptionally high, far above both the state and national medians. Rents are also very high, and the gap between housing costs and income is extreme. A typical household earning the national median income would find both buying and renting in this area to be financially out of reach. This is a reality that shapes who can live in the district and suggests that many families working in the schools or local service economy may need to live outside the district's boundaries. The area has a small population, and the district itself serves only a modest number of students for a PK-12 system.

Because Aspen School District is the only district in Pitkin County, the comparison fact-set that would normally place it among its peers in the county is not applicable. There is no other district in the county to compare it to on metrics like proficiency or spending. Data on chronic absenteeism and per-pupil spending was not available for a comparison, and the graduation rate was not reported in the data provided.

For a family considering a move to the area, the picture is clear. This is a small, high-performing district with an IB framework, set in a mountain resort community where housing is among the most expensive in the country. The district is actively working on instructional coherence and student support systems, which suggests an engaged administration. The peer environment is shaped by the demographics of the community it serves, and a parent should weigh the academic strength and program offerings against the significant financial barrier to living in the district. If a family can manage the housing costs, the academic pathway is a strong one.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

1,554

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 13%

Black 1%

White 82%

Asian 2%

Two+ 1%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 1%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 38

24%

61%

Math

Gr 38

14%

50%

Schools in this District

5 schools are officially reported under this district.

Aspen Elementary School

Aspen Middle School

Aspen High School

Aspen Community Charter School

Aspen Preschool

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

48%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

58%

Grades 3-8

Science

2 grades reported

46%

Grade 5

55%

Grade 8

Social Studies

2 grades reported

27%

Grade 4

17%

Grade 7

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$3.67M

Year-over-year change+7.5%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$2.3M to $5.6M

vs. state typical6.76x

vs. national typical9.97x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
81611	Aspen	$3.4M	+6.5%	70.2%
81656	Woody Creek	$5.6M	+11.0%	13.7%
81615	Snowmass Village	$2.3M	+13.6%	3.7%
81654		$2.8M	+7.6%	0.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$17,529/mo

Year-over-year change+34.5%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$7,750 to $18,041/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
81611	Aspen	$18,041	+34.5%	70.2%
81615	Snowmass Village	$7,750	—	3.7%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$18,522/mo

Home price / national median income43.8x

Annual rent / national median income251.2%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$993/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$543,271 (-2.4% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.