The top reported proficiency rate is 66% in English language arts. The lowest is 41% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Idalia Elementary School
Idalia Elementary School serves the youngest students in the Idalia RJ-3 School District, covering prekindergarten through sixth grade. The school is located in the unincorporated rural community of Idalia on Colorado’s Eastern Plains, a tiny farming and ranching town with a population that has hovered around one hundred residents for years. The school itself is the community’s primary civic anchor, and a new K-12 building opened in recent years, replacing the old structure. For a family considering this school, the setting is a defining feature: this is a deeply rural, tight-knit environment where the school is the center of town life.
The student body is small, and the grade span means children move through early elementary and into middle school in the same building. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which places the school in a context where economic need is present for many families. The student population is predominantly white, with a Hispanic or Latino share that is meaningful but not the majority. The school serves prekindergarten through sixth grade, so there is no high school graduation rate to report here; students continue on to the district’s secondary program in the same building.
On state assessments, Idalia Elementary’s results present a mixed picture. In English language arts, a solid majority of students scored at or above the proficient level, a clear strength for the school. In math, the share of students reaching proficiency was lower, and a parent may want to ask the school about math instruction and support. Science results for fifth grade were suppressed due to small numbers, which is common in very small schools where data is withheld to protect student privacy. When compared with other districts in Yuma County, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades placed in the top quartile, a strong showing relative to its immediate neighbors.
The school serves prekindergarten through sixth grade, so there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, and staffing was not available in the sources reviewed. The school’s Title I status was not reported in the data, and information on special education and English learner populations was also missing. A parent may want to ask the school directly about these support services.
Housing in the area is modest. Home values in the zip code are well below the state average, and the national median household income benchmark provides context for the area’s affordability. The community is very small, with no public library, parks, or formal transit identified in available sources. The school itself is the primary gathering place, and the annual Idalia Days celebration is a community highlight.
For a family, Idalia Elementary offers a small, rural elementary experience where the school is woven into the fabric of a tiny plains town. The academic picture shows a school that performs well in reading relative to its county peers, with math as an area where a parent may want to understand the school’s approach. The setting is quiet, isolated, and close-knit, and the school building is new. Families considering this school should be comfortable with a very small community where the school is the center of daily life and where resources and amenities common in larger towns are not present.
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