Lake County School District No. R-1, CO

Original Research by School Decision on Lake County School District No. R-1

Lake County School District No. R-1 serves the entirety of Lake County, Colorado, a rural, high-altitude county anchored by the town of Leadville. The district is the county's sole public school system, meaning that for families living anywhere in Lake County, this is the local public option from preschool through twelfth grade. Housing in the Leadville area is priced near the national median home value, making it more affordable than the state average in Colorado, though the district-weighted home value has seen modest growth. Rents are relatively moderate as well, and the housing market is less expensive than the broader Denver metro corridor a couple of hours east. For a family looking at the Central Rockies, Leadville offers a lower-cost entry point compared to nearby ski-resort communities.

The district enrolls a mid-sized total student body across four schools: Lake County Elementary School, Lake County Intermediate School, Lake County High School, and Cloud City High School, which appears to be an alternative or specialized high school. The student body is majority Hispanic, with a substantial White population and a small share of students identifying as two or more races. This demographic profile reflects the community's composition. District-level data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, the share receiving special education services, and the share who are English learners were not available; a parent may want to ask the district directly about these supports.

On state assessments in math and English language arts for grades three through eight, the district's proficiency rates fall well below the state averages. Fewer than a quarter of students scored at the proficient level in either subject. In science, tested at grades five and eight, the proficiency rates are also low, with an even smaller share of eighth graders reaching the proficient threshold. Social studies data from a much earlier year, a decade old, is not relevant to current performance. There is no multi-year trend data available to show whether these results are improving or declining. For a family accustomed to strong public school outcomes, this district's academic results are a significant concern and warrant a close conversation with the schools about what supports and interventions are in place.

A graduation rate was not reported for the district, so it is not possible to evaluate high school completion from this data. The district's comparison against other Lake County districts is not possible because Lake County has no other districts to compare against it is the only one. No per-pupil spending, chronic absenteeism, or course access data was available, leaving several important dimensions unmeasured. The district's schools were not designated as charter or magnet, and the website provided no information on special programs, career pathways, dual enrollment, or Advanced Placement offerings. If these are priorities, a family should ask the high school directly.

The locale brief and district brief were empty of parent-relevant changes or community context; the search found only basic accreditation records with no new initiatives, boundary changes, or program launches to report. This does not mean nothing is happening, but publicly available information on recent shifts was not found.

For a family considering a move to Leadville or Lake County, this district serves a small, predominantly Hispanic student population in a rural mountain setting with moderate housing costs. The state test scores are low, and the data gaps on spending, programs, and student supports are significant. A parent should visit the schools, ask about English learner and special education supports, and understand what the high school offers after graduation. This is a district where outcomes on state measures are weak, and the available public information does not clarify why.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

975

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 62%

White 35%

Asian 1%

Two+ 3%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

15%

Gr 4

21%

44%

Gr 6

15%

47%

Gr 8

13%

48%

Gr 38

12%

39%

Math

Gr 3

19%

Gr 4

11%

28%

Gr 5

38%

Gr 8

—

36%

Gr 38

27%

Schools in this District

4 schools are officially reported under this district.

Lake County Intermediate School

Lake County High School

Lake County Elementary School

Cloud City High School

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

1 grade reported

14%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

21%

Grades 3-8

Science

2 grades reported

13%

Grade 5

Grade 8

Social Studies

2 grades reported

Grade 4

Grade 7

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$553,901

Year-over-year change+3.0%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$503K to $640K

vs. state typical1.02x

vs. national typical1.50x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
80461	Leadville	$503K	+1.8%	63.1%
81251	Leadville	$640K	+5.0%	36.9%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,656/mo

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
80461	Leadville	$1,656	—	63.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,795/mo

Home price / national median income6.6x

Annual rent / national median income23.7%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$1,139/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.