The top reported proficiency rate is 35% in Science. The lowest is 26% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Wiley Junior-senior High School
Wiley Junior-Senior High School serves grades six through twelve in the small, rural agricultural community of Wiley, Colorado. The school is part of the Wiley School District No. Re-13 Jt, which has publicly reported completing a strategic plan in spring 2024. That plan focuses on academic excellence, family and community partnerships, professional and organizational excellence, and a safe and supportive environment. The district has also stated a commitment to making the schools technology-rich while maintaining direct instruction in a formal classroom setting, a pedagogical direction parents may want to consider.
The school is small and serves a total of about that size for its grade band. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial share of Hispanic students and very few students identifying as two or more races. Roughly half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is an indicator of economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the materials reviewed.
On state assessments, proficiency rates across math, English language arts, and science fell below the majority mark. In math, about a quarter of students scored at proficient or above. In English language arts, about a third did. In science, a little more than a third of tested eighth graders reached proficiency. These figures place the school’s overall proficiency index in the top quartile relative to other districts in Prowers County, though the context matters: the county has only a handful of districts, and the range of proficiency rates among them is wide, from lower to higher than Wiley’s. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand how instruction and support are structured for students who are not yet meeting state benchmarks.
The school's environment is shaped by its place. Wiley is a compact plains town where most residents commute roughly ten miles to Lamar for work. The community is built around agriculture, historically sugar beets and now hay, and the annual Hay Days festival. Civic life centers on the school system, three churches, and the town hall. Outdoor recreation is nearby, including John Martin Reservoir and the Queens State Wildlife Area. The town has seen slight population decline in recent years and has not experienced significant new development. Housing in the area is modestly valued relative to national and state benchmarks, and the estimated monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home is affordable compared to many parts of Colorado.
The school’s graduation rate was not available in the reviewed data. For a junior-senior high school that includes students through twelfth grade, this is a key piece of information a family would want to request directly. Similarly, information on advanced coursework, career and technical education pathways, dual enrollment, discipline rates, and chronic absenteeism was not present in the materials provided, which limits the full picture of academic offerings and school climate.
Overall, Wiley Junior-Senior High School is a small, rural school where the community’s identity is closely tied to the school itself. The academic results on state tests are below the statewide midpoint but sit in the top tier among the county’s limited set of districts. The district has laid out stated priorities around academic excellence and technology integration. Families moving to the area will find an affordable housing market, a stable but not growing town, and a school where direct inquiry about academic programming, support services, and postsecondary outcomes will be necessary to round out the profile.
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