The reported proficiency rate for English language arts is 48%.
Original Research by School Decision on Aguilar Elementary School
Aguilar Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the small, rural town of Aguilar, Colorado. It is a regular public school within the Aguilar Reorganized School District No. 6 and is the district’s only elementary campus. The town itself has a long history as a coal-mining community, but its population has been in a steady, long-term decline for decades. Today Aguilar is a very small statutory town with a modest historic core, described by its own website as “tight-knit.” The built environment is minimal, street life is quiet, and the school sits within walking distance of the town’s Main Street and municipal functions. The district operates just one elementary school and one junior/senior high school, so the elementary campus is the primary academic home for all local children from preschool through fifth grade.
Academically, Aguilar Elementary stands out among its peer schools in Las Animas County. When compared relative to districts in Las Animas County, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile. That is a notably strong showing for a school of its size and setting. In English language arts, roughly half of tested students met or exceeded state standards, a level that outpaced the county median by a clear margin. Mathematics results for the most recent testing year were suppressed due to the small number of test-takers, so a direct proficiency rate is not available; the average scale score was reported but without a proficiency percentage, the picture is incomplete. Science results for fifth grade were also suppressed, with no students recorded as tested that year. A parent may want to ask the school directly about math and science performance trends, as the small cohort sizes make year-to-year comparisons unreliable.
The student body is small, around seventy children across seven grade levels, which gives the school a very intimate feel. Class sizes are small, and most students are white, with a substantial Hispanic minority. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic challenges many families face in a town with limited employment opportunities. The town’s median household income is low, and a notable share of residents live below the poverty line. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so the school’s support programs in those areas are not visible from the records reviewed.
The school environment appears stable. There was no information on chronic absenteeism or discipline rates, and the district brief turned up no recent major changes such as referendums, curriculum overhauls, or property tax shifts. The district operates quietly, with no headline developments to report. For a family considering Aguilar, the housing market reflects the town’s population decline: very few new homes or developments, a tiny land area, and a historic core with modest structures. Rents and home values are likely low, though specific figures were not provided.
Aguilar Elementary offers a straightforward, small-town elementary experience with academic results that are strong for the region, especially in reading. The school fits families who want a very small school, a tight-knit community, and a setting where the teacher knows every child by name. It fits less well for those seeking broad program choices, large peer groups, or a growing community with robust services. A parent looking for extensive after-school offerings, specialized academic tracks, or a school with a wide demographic mix would not find that here. For someone comfortable with the limitations of a shrinking rural town, the elementary school delivers solid foundational academics in a close, supportive environment.
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