The top reported proficiency rate is 63% in Science. The lowest is 36% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Weldon Valley Jr/sr High School
Weldon Valley Jr/Sr High School sits in the unincorporated community of Weldona, a small residential cluster on Colorado’s northeastern plains roughly eighty miles from Denver. The school serves grades seven through twelve and is the secondary campus for the School District No. Re-20 Weldon Valley. The community is quiet and sparse, with no downtown, no major employers, and a population that has been declining. The built environment is limited to homes and a local church; outdoor recreation at Jackson Lake State Park and Andrick Ponds State Wildlife Area is a short drive away. The school’s setting is rural, and the community’s growth context is one of modest shrinkage rather than expansion.
The student body is small. The school’s enrollment is on the lower end for a secondary school serving seven grade levels. The student population is predominantly white, with a small Hispanic presence and a very small number of Black students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the area’s economic profile. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the records we reviewed, so a parent may want to ask the school about the availability and staffing of special education and language support services.
Academically, the school shows a mixed profile with notable strengths relative to its local peers. In the most recent state assessments, proficiency rates in math and English language arts were below a majority of tested students, though science results looked stronger—well over half of tested eighth graders scored at the proficient level or above. The participation rate in testing was high. When placed among the other districts in Morgan County, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades lands in the top quartile of that group. That is a genuine strength: among the county’s districts, Weldon Valley Jr/Sr High School stands out for higher performance. The number of tested students was small, so year-to-year fluctuations may be wider than at larger schools, but the comparison puts the school in a favorable position relative to immediate neighbors.
Several pieces of information that parents often use to assess a school are missing from the data we have. No four-year graduation rate was reported for this school, which is unusual for a school that serves twelfth grade; it may be a data-reporting gap rather than a reflection of the school itself. Chronic absenteeism data was also absent, and we found no information about course access, staffing ratios, or discipline rates. The school’s program offerings—Advanced Placement, concurrent enrollment, career and technical education—were not documented in the available data. A parent looking for a broad academic pathway with multiple exit options or accelerated coursework would want to follow up directly with the school or district to learn what is available.
The housing market in the area served by the school reflects the broader national pattern of elevated prices relative to incomes. Home values in the zip code are around the national median but lower than the state benchmark for Colorado, which is pulled up by the Denver metro area. Affordability is a challenge nationally, and this area is no exception; the estimated monthly mortgage payment on a typical home is at a level that would be a stretch for a household earning the area’s median income. Rents were not reported. The town’s small housing stock and population decline suggest limited turnover and few new listings, which may make finding a home more about timing and local connections than broad market options.
Weldon Valley Jr/Sr High School is the sole secondary option in a small, rural district. Its academic performance, while uneven in raw terms, positions it well among Morgan County districts. The school’s size means small class environments, but also means fewer built-in program arrays than a larger high school might offer. Families considering this school should plan to ask about graduation rates, course pathways, and support services directly, since the available public data does not cover those areas. The community itself is quiet and residential, suited to those who value rural life and outdoor access over commercial amenities.
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