Calhan District No. Rj1, CO

Original Research by School Decision on Calhan District No. Rj1

Calhan District No. RJ1 is a single-district system serving a rural area of eastern El Paso County, Colorado. The district runs two schools, Calhan Elementary School and Calhan Secondary School, covering preschool through twelfth grade. The enrollment is small, and the student body is predominantly white, with Black and Hispanic students each making up a modest share. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, as well as counts of students with disabilities and English learners, was not available.

The district sits in a part of El Paso County that is distinctly rural, with the town of Calhan as its hub. Housing values in the district's zip codes vary, with the Calhan zip code itself showing a weighted home value that is below the statewide benchmark, while a small portion of the district reaches into a higher-priced area near Elbert. The overall district-weighted home value is below the Colorado average, and the year-over-year change has been flat. This is not a fast-appreciating market. The national economic context shows a 30-year fixed mortgage rate above six percent and a national unemployment rate just above four percent, which shapes affordability for any family considering a move.

On state assessments, the district's results are mixed. In math, the proficiency rate for students in grades three through eight was below the midpoint among El Paso County's districts. In English language arts, the rate was higher, though still modest. Science results at the fifth-grade level were similar, while eighth-grade science proficiency was lower. The participation rate in the math and English language arts assessments was below the typical threshold, which means the results reflect a smaller share of the enrolled students than is ideal for drawing firm conclusions. A parent may want to ask the district about the participation rate and how it factors into the reported scores. The overall proficiency index, which averages results across tested subjects and grades, places the district above the midpoint among El Paso County's districts, though the range across the county is wide.

Chronic absenteeism is a significant concern. The district's rate is the highest among the county districts for which data was available, and it sits in the bottom quartile. This is a metric that families should discuss with the school to understand what supports are in place and what the underlying causes may be.

Per-pupil current spending is in the middle range, upper half, among the county's districts. The district operates two schools, an elementary and a secondary school, covering the full PK-12 span. No information was found on recent referendums, curriculum changes, property-tax shifts, or other lasting parent-relevant changes within the district. The district's website and public records did not yield details on program offerings such as Advanced Placement, career and technical education, or dual enrollment, so those are not described here.

The chronic absenteeism rate is a clear area of concern. It is the highest among the county districts with available data, and it sits in the bottom quartile. This is a metric that families should discuss directly with the district to understand the context and what interventions are being used.

Overall, Calhan District No. RJ1 is a small, rural district with a predominantly white student body, a modest proficiency profile that sits above the midpoint of the county's districts when averaged across subjects, and a per-pupil spending level that is in the upper half of the county. The chronic absenteeism rate is a significant soft spot that warrants a closer look. The district has not reported recent changes in curriculum, funding, or policy that would be of immediate note to parents.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

436

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 6%

Black 8%

White 84%

Asian 1%

Two+ 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 38

38%

41%

Math

Gr 38

26%

28%

Schools in this District

2 schools are officially reported under this district.

Calhan Elementary School

Calhan Secondary School

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

1 grade reported

27%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

39%

Grades 3-8

Science

2 grades reported

36%

Grade 5

21%

Grade 8

Social Studies

2 grades reported

22%

Grade 4

22%

Grade 7

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$477,876

Year-over-year change+0.3%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$440K to $730K

vs. state typical0.88x

vs. national typical1.30x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
80808	Calhan	$477K	+0.2%	94.5%
80832	Matheson	$440K	+2.5%	4.5%
80106	Elbert	$730K	-1.1%	1.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,411/mo

Home price / national median income5.7x

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.