School District No. Re-5 Plateau, CO

Original Research by School Decision on School District No. Re-5 Plateau

School District No. Re-5 Plateau is a small, rural Colorado district serving approximately 200 students across all grades, from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. It comprises two schools: Peetz Elementary School and Peetz Junior-Senior High School. The district is located in Logan County, and its student body is predominantly white, with a small Hispanic population. The district’s overall enrollment is modest, typical of a rural agricultural community.

On state assessments administered in the most recent school year, the district’s performance in English language arts met the proficient or above benchmark for half of its students tested in grades three through eight. In math, roughly two-fifths of students at those grade levels met the same benchmark. Fifth-grade science results were stronger, with more than half of students scoring proficient or above. A comparison among the four districts in Logan County places Plateau Re-5’s overall proficiency index in the top quartile, meaning its combined test scores are the strongest in the county. However, the pool is small, and the gap between this district’s proficiency rate and that of the next closest district is modest.

The district’s chronic absenteeism rate stands out as a soft spot. Reported at a level that falls in the bottom quartile among Logan County districts, this is an area a parent may want to ask about directly, as the data suggests a substantial share of students are missing enough school to affect academic continuity. The district’s per-pupil spending is notably higher than that of its neighbors, placing it in the upper range for the county, which may reflect the higher fixed costs of operating a small, geographically spread-out system.

Housing in the area is more affordable than the state and national benchmarks. Home values in the district’s contributing ZIP codes are well below Colorado’s median, and rents are similarly moderate. The largest share of the district’s housing stock is concentrated in the town of Otis, with smaller contributions from Crook, Iliff, and Sterling. Mortgage payments on a typical home here are estimated to be close to the cost of renting, a factor that may appeal to families weighing a purchase.

The district’s brief notes that a search for recent major changes or strategic priorities turned up little. That likely reflects the stability of a small rural district that evolves gradually rather than in dramatic leaps.

For a family considering this district, the picture is clear. Academically, it is the top performer in its county on state tests, though that comparison is against only three other districts. Its middle school and high school enrollment cohorts are very small, which means students in those grades will experience an intimate setting with limited course offerings, though the presence of a junior-senior high school building suggests some shared resources across upper grades. The chronic absenteeism rate is something the district may be working on, and a prospective parent should ask what supports are in place. The housing market is accessible by state and national standards, and the surrounding communities are small, quiet, and agricultural. This is a place where a family looking for a close-knit rural school system with solid test scores relative to the region would find a fit. Those seeking broad elective menus, extensive extracurriculars, or student body size and diversity should consider how the district’s scale aligns with their priorities.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

200

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 5%

White 93%

Am. Indian / AK Native 2%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 38

33%

54%

Schools in this District

2 schools are officially reported under this district.

Peetz Elementary School

Peetz Junior-Senior High School

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

1 grade reported

40%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

50%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

56%

Grade 5

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$235,272

Year-over-year change+3.6%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$233K to $286K

vs. state typical0.43x

vs. national typical0.64x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
80747	Otis	$233K	+3.7%	55.6%
80751	Sterling	$246K	+2.0%	3.5%
80736	Iliff	$286K	+2.0%	1.7%
80726	Crook	$252K	+7.1%	0.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,190/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
80751	Sterling	$1,190	—	3.5%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,187/mo

Home price / national median income2.8x

Annual rent / national median income17.1%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$3/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.