The top reported proficiency rate is 79% in English language arts. The lowest is 72% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Crest Academy
Crest Academy is a regular public middle school in Salida, Colorado, serving grades five through eight as part of the Salida School District No. R-32. The school is small; the total enrollment is modest for a four-grade middle school, with slightly more students in the lower grades and fewer in the eighth grade. It is not a charter or magnet school. Because it serves only middle grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and the state's accountability framework for high school does not apply.
The academic picture comes from Colorado's statewide assessments. In math, a large majority of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels, a result that places the school well above the average among the small number of schools in Chaffee County. English language arts performance was even stronger, with roughly four in five students reaching proficiency. The school's overall proficiency across tested subjects lands in the top tier relative to other districts in the county. Science results for both fifth and eighth grade were suppressed by the state, likely because the tested group was too small to report confidentially; a parent may want to ask the school directly how science learning is measured and how students fare.
The student body is predominantly white, with small numbers of Asian, Hispanic, and multiracial students. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, a common gap in very small schools where privacy protections prevent reporting small counts. Chronic absenteeism data was also missing, so a reader cannot gauge attendance patterns from this profile.
Salida, where the school is located, is the county seat and the largest town in Chaffee County, with a historic downtown that is the largest National Historic District in Colorado. The town has an older-skewing population, with a notable share of residents living alone. The economy is driven by tourism, outdoor recreation along the Arkansas River, healthcare, and county government. Housing costs are high relative to the national median, and the rental market follows the same pattern, reflecting the area's appeal as a mountain destination.
The district itself received the state's highest accreditation rating in 2025, an improvement from the prior year, suggesting that Crest Academy's strong results fit within a district-wide upward trend. The school's website is part of the Salida school system, and the district operates several other middle-level options, including a charter school and an exploratory academy, giving local families choices within the same community.
For a family considering Crest Academy, the relevant facts are straightforward. The school delivers well-above-average academic results in math and reading for a small middle school in a relatively expensive mountain town. The peer group is small and overwhelmingly white, with limited economic diversity and no publicly visible special education or English learner numbers. The setting is a compact, walkable town with a strong outdoor culture but a limited base of large employers. A parent should feel comfortable asking the school for more detail on science instruction and support for students with disabilities, but the core academic record speaks clearly.
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