The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in Science. The lowest is 11% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Custer Middle School
Custer Middle School serves grades six through eight as one of the regular public schools within Custer County School District Consolidate 1. It is located in Westcliffe, a small rural mountain town that also serves as the Custer County seat. The school sits at an elevation in the Wet Mountain Valley, between the Wet Mountains and the Sangre de Cristo Range, in a community whose character is shaped by tourism, ranching, and its designation as part of an International Dark Sky Community alongside neighboring Silver Cliff. Westcliffe’s population has declined over recent decades, and the town remains a quiet, frontier-era settlement with a compact historic downtown. The area’s civic anchors include Bluff Park, the Smokey Jack Observatory, and the town amphitheater, which hosts seasonal music festivals. The broader district level saw a bond measure placed on the ballot in late 2024, seeking authorization for a substantial general obligation bond; the outcome and its impact on facilities or taxes were not confirmed in available records.
Enrollment at Custer Middle School is small for a middle school, and grade-level counts are roughly balanced across sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. The student body is predominantly White, with a smaller share of Hispanic students and very small numbers of Asian, Black, and multiracial students. About half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common measure of economic need in a rural area. Data on students with disabilities or English learners was not available; a parent may wish to ask the school directly about these populations and the supports offered.
State test results from the Colorado Measures of Academic Success are the main source of academic performance information. In math, the share of students scoring at the proficient or advanced level is low. In English language arts, proficiency is somewhat higher but still well below typical statewide averages. Science results, which are tested only in eighth grade, show a moderate proportion of students meeting expectations. Across all tested subjects, student participation was nearly complete, meaning the results reflect the full tested population. No multi-year trend data was available, so it is not possible to say whether these scores are improving, declining, or stable. Because Custer County has only a single district, there is no peer district within the county for comparison; placing the school’s results in a broader Colorado context would require looking beyond county boundaries.
The school’s course access, staffing ratios, discipline rates, and attendance data were all absent from the available records. No information was provided about after-school programs or extracurricular offerings. A family evaluating the school may want to request details on class sizes, elective options, and the availability of support services directly from the school or district.
Custer Middle School fits families who want a very small school environment in a rural mountain town with a quiet pace and strong outdoor recreation access. The academic proficiency picture is modest, and the school faces the resource constraints typical of a rural district. A parent who sees low proficiency as a signal to explore the school’s instructional approach and any targeted interventions can follow up with the school. The lack of IEP and EL data, along with the absence of information on advancement programs or specialized pathways, leaves several practical questions unanswered. For a family considering this area, the recent district bond discussion may also be relevant to future facility conditions and local tax expectations.
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