The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in English language arts. The lowest is 14% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Crowley County Elementary K-6
Crowley County Elementary K-6 serves the town of Ordway, the county seat of Crowley County, and is the sole elementary school for the Crowley County School District No. Re-1-J. The school covers kindergarten through sixth grade, and with an enrollment that is small in the context of Colorado elementary schools, it is large enough to offer a full grade-level structure but small enough that many families will know the staff and each other. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic population, and a modest share of students who identify as two or more races; other ethnic groups are present in very small numbers. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a signal that the school serves a community with significant economic need.
State assessment results are available for this school, and they paint a clear picture. Proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science all fall below the statewide average. In math, the share of students scoring at proficient or above is low, and in English language arts it is also low, though somewhat stronger than math. Science results, tested at fifth grade, show a similar pattern. A parent considering this school should look into these numbers further with the district and ask what academic interventions, curriculum supports, or targeted instruction are in place to address these outcomes. The participation rate on the assessments was high, so the results reflect nearly the full tested population.
Because Crowley County Elementary serves only kindergarten through sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to report and no high-school-level program data such as Advanced Placement, dual enrollment, or career and technical education pathways. Those would be found at the district’s secondary school.
The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. Data on discipline, staffing, chronic absenteeism, and special education or English learner populations were not available in the source material, so those dimensions cannot be characterized here.
Ordway is a compact, quiet rural town. Its economy and identity are tied to irrigated agriculture, and as the county seat, county government is a significant employer. The built environment is a traditional grid centered on Main Street, with small commercial businesses, a grocery store, a hardware store, some restaurants, and a hotel. Conestoga Park in the center of town hosts community events such as the Summer Festival and Crowley County Days. The town has been experiencing gradual population decline, and no major new housing or commercial development was evident in the available sources. The housing market reflects the rural context, with home values well below the Colorado state median, and the area is more affordable than many parts of the state.
The district itself had no recent parent-relevant changes reported in the sources searched, so the policy and leadership context appears stable in the near term, though a parent should always confirm current conditions directly with the district office.
Crowley County Elementary K-6 is a straightforward, small rural elementary school serving a high-needs student population. Its academic performance, as measured by state assessments, is an area where the school and district have room to improve, and families who value strong test performance or advanced academic programming at the elementary level will want to understand what enrichment and intervention offerings exist. For families already rooted in Ordway or the surrounding farming area, this is the neighborhood elementary school, integrated into the small-town life of the county seat. For families moving in from outside, the school fits a context where the community is stable, the housing is affordable, and the school’s scale is intimate — but a close look at the academic support structure is warranted.
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