The top reported proficiency rate is 14% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Woodlin School District No. R-104
Woodlin School District No. R-104 is a tiny public school district in Washington County, Colorado, serving students from preschool through twelfth grade. Its enrollment is very small, spread across two buildings: Woodlin Elementary and Woodlin Undivided High School. A district this size offers a tightly knit, individualized experience. A single classroom may combine a handful of children across several grade levels, and teachers and staff likely know every student by name. For families who want a close community and are comfortable with limited cohort size, this can be a strong fit. For others the scale may feel constraining, especially at the high school level where course variety depends on what a small staff can offer.
Academically, the district faces real challenges. On the state’s assessments for math and English language arts in grades three through eight, the share of students scoring at proficient or advanced levels was low. The tested group was very small, however, and the participation rate was below the state’s threshold, so the results represent only a fraction of the eligible students and may not capture the full picture. Science results for fifth and eighth grade were suppressed, meaning the data did not meet the state’s reporting minimums, a common situation when very few students take a test. Parents should be aware that the small numbers make year-to-year performance volatile: a single student’s scores can shift the district’s rates noticeably. No graduation rate was available in the dataset, so it is not possible to speak to how well the district supports students through to completion.
Compared with other districts in Washington County, Woodlin’s overall proficiency level falls below the midpoint among the four districts. Its chronic absenteeism rate, a measure of how many students miss substantial school days, was also below the midpoint, meaning it was higher than the county median and among the highest in the cohort. This is a flag that some families may want to explore with the school: small rural settings can face attendance challenges connected to transportation distances, health issues, or family circumstances, and the district’s ability to address them depends on available resources. On the other hand, per-pupil current spending is in the upper range among the county’s districts, which is typical for very small schools that must cover fixed costs—facilities, a principal, a bus route—across a tiny enrollment base.
The student body is predominantly white, with a small number of Black and Hispanic students. Information on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported. The district’s website and the district brief turned up no recent ballot measures, curriculum updates, or major changes in the last several years, which may reflect a stable but low-profile operation.
Housing in the area carries modest costs relative to the state average. The district’s weighted home value estimate, drawn from zip codes in surrounding towns such as Akron, Brush, and Flagler, is below the Colorado median and roughly in line with national norms. The area is rural, with no densely populated center serving the district directly. A parent or resident considering this district would be moving into a low-density agricultural region where the school is the hub.
Overall, Woodlin District R-104 offers an intimate, small-scale rural education. The academic performance data indicate room for growth, and the chronic absenteeism rate is a concern worth investigating. The high per-pupil spending reflects the cost of operating a very small district, not a sign of abundant programming. Families who value close relationships and a straightforward, uncomplicated school setting may find it a comfortable choice. Families looking for broad course options, strong competitive test scores, or a bustling peer environment would likely look elsewhere.
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