The top reported proficiency rate is 30% in English language arts. The lowest is 18% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Wamsley Elementary School
Wamsley Elementary School serves students from preschool through fifth grade in Rifle, Colorado, as part of the Garfield School District No. Re-2. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet school.
The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly Hispanic, with a smaller share of White students and very small numbers from other racial and ethnic groups. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Wamsley’s state assessment results are the primary academic data available. In English language arts, about three out of ten students scored at or above the proficient level. In math, roughly two out of ten students did. In fifth-grade science, about two out of ten students met the proficiency bar. When compared across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency sits below the midpoint among the three elementary-level districts in Garfield County for which data was reported. Parents and guardians may want to follow up with the school to understand the specific instructional strategies and supports in place for students working below grade level.
Because Wamsley is an elementary school, no high school metrics such as graduation rate, college readiness, or course access data apply. The available data does not include chronic absenteeism rates, staffing information, or discipline statistics. English learner and special education population counts were also not reported in the data.
The town of Rifle sits along Interstate 70 and the Colorado River in Garfield County and serves as a regional commercial and ranching hub. Its economy has historically cycled through boom-and-bust periods tied to fossil fuel extraction in the Piceance Basin. Downtown centers on Railroad Avenue, and the Garfield County Fair Grounds draws events throughout the year. Schools are spread across the community rather than clustered downtown; Wamsley is one of three elementary schools serving Rifle, alongside Graham Mesa and Highland Elementary. Colorado Mountain College operates a campus just east of the city.
Housing in the area has a median value slightly above the national benchmark, though below the Colorado state benchmark. The estimated monthly mortgage cost on a median-priced home, with a 20 percent down payment and prevailing mortgage rates, falls somewhat above what a typical rent would be, indicating that buying may be a stretch relative to renting for many households. The national unemployment rate at the time of this data was modest, and national median household income was up modestly from the prior year.
In the Garfield Re-2 district, voters in November 2022 approved a bond for district-wide facility improvements. The bond funds safety and security upgrades across all schools, classroom additions at the high schools, construction of a new elementary school in the Rifle area, and technology infrastructure upgrades. This investment points to ongoing growth or renovation in the district’s physical plant.
For a family considering Wamsley, the picture is one of a mid-sized elementary school in a community with a mixed economic base, serving a primarily Hispanic student body, with state test results that sit below the county median among reporting districts. The school district is actively investing in facilities. A parent may want to explore what academic interventions and enrichment are available to understand whether the school’s current performance trajectory matches their child’s needs.
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