The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in English language arts. The lowest is 15% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Burlington Middle School
Burlington Middle School is a regular public school serving students in fifth through eighth grade in the eastern Colorado town of Burlington. It is the only middle school in the Burlington Public School District No. RE-6J, which also operates one elementary and one high school. Located within the town itself, the school draws from the surrounding rural area of Kit Carson County, where agriculture drives the economy and I-70 serves as the main transport corridor to the Kansas line.
On the most recent state assessments, proficiency rates across tested subjects were modest. In math, roughly one in seven students scored at or above the proficient level, and in English language arts the share was about three in ten. Science results, available for fifth and eighth graders separately, showed similar patterns: a smaller portion met the state standard in fifth grade, with a slightly larger share in eighth grade. When compared with the other districts in Kit Carson County, Burlington Middle School’s overall proficiency index falls above the midpoint. That means the school’s combined performance across subjects places it in the upper half of the county’s five districts, though the range of proficiency among those districts is wide, from notably low to moderately higher. Participation rates on the tests were high, with almost all enrolled students taking part.
The school enrolls a modest number of students, spread fairly evenly across grades five through eight. A substantial portion of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a community with significant economic need. Racially and ethnically, the student body is split roughly evenly between white students and Hispanic students, with small numbers of students who are American Indian, Asian, Black, or multiracial. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available in the public record.
Burlington itself is a small agricultural county seat on the High Plains. The town has experienced slight population decline in recent years, while median home values have risen moderately. Housing remains affordable relative to the state average, and the town is car-dependent, with most residents driving alone to work. The school shares the town with a regional community college center, the county courthouse, and civic amenities such as parks, a pool, and the historic Kit Carson County Carousel. The local economy is anchored by agriculture, accommodation and food services, and health care, with the school district itself being a notable employer.
Several areas of school life are not captured in the available data. There is no published information on discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, or course access. No program offerings—such as electives, music, arts, or advanced coursework—were listed in the records reviewed. A parent considering the school may want to ask directly about these aspects.
Burlington Middle School is a small rural school that serves a high-poverty student body with some academic strengths relative to nearby districts, even as absolute proficiency levels point to room for growth. The community is stable and affordable, with a traditional agricultural base and limited population pressure. Families moving to the area will find a straightforward K-12 system within a single district, with the middle school at the center of town life.
See more original research from School Decision →