The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in English language arts. The lowest is 25% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Custer County Elementary School
Custer County Elementary School serves the youngest students in the Custer County School District, offering pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in a single building on Main Street in Westcliffe. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and it sits at the heart of a small mountain community that doubles as the county seat. Westcliffe is a quiet, rural town tucked between the Wet Mountains and the Sangre de Cristo Range, drawing visitors for its dark skies, outdoor recreation, and seasonal festivals. The school is the only elementary option within the district, which covers a sparsely populated county.
Enrollment is small, with children spread fairly evenly across the grades. The student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of Hispanic and multiracial students. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a marker that the school serves a population with significant economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the available records, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those programs and supports.
On the Colorado Measures of Academic Success assessments, performance is mixed. In English language arts, roughly half of students in tested grades met or exceeded the state’s proficiency standard. In math, the share was lower. Science is assessed only in fifth grade, where a little more than a third of students scored proficient. Participation rates on all assessments were high, so the results reflect nearly the whole tested group. No trend data from prior years was available, so it is not possible to say whether these scores represent an improvement or decline. Because Custer County has only one school district, there is no local comparison group to measure this school against its immediate neighbors.
Housing values in the area are moderately above the national typical level, though the town’s population has declined in recent years, and the broader county appears stable rather than growing. The school district placed a bond measure on the ballot in late 2024 to fund facility improvements, a move that could affect property taxes and school infrastructure. The outcome of that vote was not reported in the available information.
For families considering this school, the picture is straightforward. Custer County Elementary is a small, rural school where economic need is common and academic results are uneven—stronger in reading than in math. The community offers a quiet mountain lifestyle with access to national forest, fishing, and stargazing, but not the job base or growth of a larger town. Parents who value a tight-knit, low-key setting and want to learn more about special education and English learner services will need to follow up directly with the school.
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