Empowering Minds: Education and Schools in Our Community
Excellence in Mountain Education
Salida School District R-32-J offers an educational experience that combines small-class intimacy with surprisingly diverse opportunities. As you consider relocating your family to Salida, you'll discover schools where teachers know every student by name, administrators are accessible to parents, and the mountain environment enhances learning through experiential education.
- Salida School District R-32-J serving approximately 1,100 students
- Student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 15:1
- 85% graduation rate, exceeding the state average
- Consistent community support for education funding
- Integrated outdoor and experiential learning
- Programs spanning pre-K through high school
- $23 million in recent facility improvements
Salida Early Childhood Center
- Preschool for ages 3-5 with full- and half-day options
- Play-based curriculum with nature-based learning
- Sliding scale fees and high kindergarten readiness
Longfellow Elementary School
- Governor's Distinguished Improvement Award recipient
- Above-average literacy and experiential math programs
- Weekly specials in art, music, PE, and library
- STEAM integration and school garden program
Salida Middle School
- "School to Watch" national designation
- $8.2 million facility renovation
- Robust STEM, award-winning music, and outdoor ed
- Electives in world languages, tech, and arts
- Advisory mentor program and athletics opportunities
Salida High School
- Top-ranked small high school in Colorado
- AP courses, Project Lead The Way, and dual enrollment
- Spartan Speech and Debate and championship athletics
- Mountain Sports integration and renovated CTE spaces
- 90% of graduates pursue further education or training
Unique Educational Programs
- Expeditionary Learning with multi-week experiences
- Spanish-English Dual Language Immersion
- Place-based Education Initiative
- Junior Achievement Business Program
- Mountain Sports Academy
- Sustainable Agriculture with student-run greenhouse
- River Science Curriculum on the Arkansas River
- Therapeutic Adventure Program for emotional support
Recent Academic Accolades
- National Blue Ribbon School – Longfellow Elementary
- John Irwin School of Excellence – Salida Middle School
- "Accredited with Distinction" by CO Department of Ed
- Five Boettcher Scholarship finalists in the last decade
- NASA Explorer School and state champion debate team
- Colorado Teacher of the Year finalists
Recent Educational Investments
- $23 million facilities upgrade completed in 2022
- New middle school STEAM lab and 1:1 technology
- Renovated athletic and performing arts facilities
- Solar projects integrated into curriculum and savings
- On-campus student health center and housing initiative
Private and Alternative Education Options
- Montessori del Mundo (ages 2.5–12)
- Colorado Connections Academy (online public school)
- Mountain Sage Community School (Waldorf-inspired)
- Chaffee County High School (alternative education)
- Homeschool Enrichment Program support
- Colorado Mountain College concurrent enrollment
- Adams State articulation agreement
Proximity to Higher Education
- Colorado Mountain College (Buena Vista – 25 min)
- Adams State University (Alamosa – 90 min)
- Western Colorado University (Gunnison – 2 hours)
- University of Colorado and Colorado College (2 hours)
- Transfer agreements for seamless academic transition
In Salida, education reflects the mountain lifestyle—intimate, engaging, community-rooted, and excellence-driven. Students gain not only knowledge, but also resilience, creativity, and a strong sense of place, giving families the confidence that their children will thrive both in school and in life.
