Best La Plata County �� Elementary Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 5 private elementary schools serving 582 students in La Plata County, CO.

The private elementary schools in La Plata County, CO include Durango Early Learning Center and St. Columba School.

The average acceptance rate is 25%, which is lower than the Colorado private elementary school average acceptance rate of 85%.

33% of private elementary schools in La Plata County, CO are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Catholic).

St. Columba School Photo - St. Columba School, where students are known, respected, and cared for by faculty, staff, and peers; where exploring ideas and loving learning are cool; where happiness and challenge walk hand-in-hand; where leadership and extracurricular opportunities abound; and where the presence of the Catholic tradition stamps a profound and lasting influence on the educational experience of our young scholars.

Top-Ranked La Plata County �� Elementary Schools (2026)

School

Location

Quick Facts

Durango Early Learning Center

Alternative School

Add to Compare

890 East Third Ave
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 259-1483

Gr: NS-3 | 71 students Avg. class size: 15 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed

St. Columba School

(Catholic)

Add to Compare

1801 E 3rd Ave
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-5527

Gr: PK-8 | 290 students Extracurrculars: 6 Tuition listed

Hope Community Christian Academy

(Christian)

Add to Compare

115 Ute St
Ignacio, CO 81137
(970) 563-0692

Gr: K-8 | 43 students

The Liberty School

Special Education School

Add to Compare

3107 Western Avenue
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 385-4834

Gr: 2-8 | 30 students Sports: 7 Tuition listed

Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy

Montessori School

Add to Compare

275 Mouache Circle
Ignacio, CO 81137
(970) 563-0253

Gr: PK-5 | 98 students

[+] Show Closed �� Schools in La Plata County, Colorado

La Plata County �� Schools (Closed)

School

Location

Quick Facts

Columbine Christian School (Closed 2015)

(Seventh Day Adventist)

1775 Florida Rd
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 259-1189

Gr: PK-8 | 41 students

Overview

This County (La Plata County)

This State (CO)

# Schools

6 Schools

View Data

Trends in Total Number of �� Elementary Schools
Year	La Plata County Total Schools
2025	6
2024	7
2023	6
2022	5
2021	5
2020	6
2019	5
2018	5
2017	4
2016	4
2015	4

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Student Body:

# Students

582 Students

49,589 Students

View Data

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per �� Elementary School
Year	La Plata County Average	Colorado (CO) Average	National Average
2025	97	190	199
2024	83	180	192
2023	85	185	193
2022	97	192	205
2021	97	189	201
2020	84	179	188
2019	102	182	193
2018	102	192	190
2017	127	196	199
2016	127	194	196
2015	127	164	183

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% Average Students of Color

26%

24%

View Data

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)
Year	La Plata County Average	Colorado (CO) Average	National Average
2025	26%	24%	33%
2024	26%	25%	32%
2023	25%	25%	32%
2022	26%	24%	32%
2021	26%	24%	31%
2020	25%	24%	31%
2019	30%	23%	31%
2018	30%	22%	30%
2017	30%	27%	31%
2016	30%	28%	31%
2015	30%	29%	31%

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Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers

58 Teachers

4,845 Teachers

Average Student-Teacher Ratio

10:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)
Year	La Plata County Average	Colorado (CO) Average	National Average
2025	10:1	10:1	11:1
2024	10:1	10:1	11:1
2023	9:1	11:1	11:1
2022	12:1	10:1	11:1
2021	12:1	11:1	11:1
2020	12:1	11:1	11:1
2019	13:1	11:1	11:1
2018	13:1	11:1	11:1
2017	12:1	12:1	11:1
2016	12:1	12:1	12:1
2015	12:1	11:1	12:1

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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree

88%

55%

View Data

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2018-2025)
Year	La Plata County Average	Colorado (CO) Average	National Average
2025	88%	55%	54%
2024	88%	55%	54%
2023	88%	55%	53%
2022	88%	55%	53%
2021	88%	55%	53%
2020	88%	54%	53%
2019	88%	54%	52%
2018	88%	54%	52%

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Average Class Size

15 students

Average Number of AP Courses

15 courses

12 courses

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost

$16,607

$12,796

View Data

Tuition Cost Trends (2018-2025)
Year	La Plata County Average	Colorado (CO) Average	National Average
2025	$16,607	$13,216	$14,043
2024	$10,410	$12,469	$12,357
2023	$10,410	$11,735	$11,693
2022	$10,410	$11,362	$11,199
2021	$10,010	$10,907	$10,824
2020	$9,635	$10,196	$10,496
2019	$3,320	$9,668	$10,300
2018	$3,320	$9,493	$10,056

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Average % on Financial Aid

40%

30%

View Data

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2020-2025)
Year	La Plata County Average	Colorado (CO) Average	National Average
2025	40%	30%	34%
2024	40%	29%	33%
2023	40%	29%	33%
2022	40%	28%	32%
2021	40%	27%	32%
2020	40%	28%	31%

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Average Acceptance Rate

25%

85%

Average Endowment Size

$50 million

$28.59 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.60

View Data

Diversity Score Trends
Year	La Plata County Average	Colorado (CO) Average	National Average
2025	0.60	0.60	0.64
2024	0.60	0.60	0.64
2023	0.61	0.61	0.63
2022	0.61	0.60	0.62
2021	0.61	0.60	0.62
2020	0.60	0.60	0.62
2019	0.61	0.60	0.61
2018	0.61	0.62	0.60
2017	0.60	0.61	0.59
2016	0.60	0.61	0.59
2015	0.60	0.58	0.58

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# American Indian Students

31 Students

338 Students

% American Indian Students

View Data

Percentage of �� Elementary School Students of American Indian Trends
Year	La Plata County Average	Colorado (CO) Average	National Average
2025	5%	1%	1%
2024	5%	1%	1%
2023	7%	2%	1%
2022	9%	1%	1%
2021	9%	1%	1%
2020	8%	1%	1%
2019	7%	1%	1%
2018	7%	1%	1%
2017	7%	1%	1%
2016	7%	1%	1%
2015	7%	1%	1%

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# Asian Students

10 Students

1,241 Students

% Asian Students

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Trends
Year	La Plata County Average	Colorado (CO) Average	National Average
2025	2%	3%	5%
2024	2%	3%	5%
2023	2%	2%	5%
2022	1%	3%	5%
2021	1%	3%	5%
2020	1%	3%	5%
2019	1%	3%	4%
2018	1%	2%	4%
2017	1%	2%	4%
2016	1%	2%	4%
2015	1%	3%	4%

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# Hispanic Students

19 Students

4,897 Students

% Hispanic Students

10%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends
Year	La Plata County Average	Colorado (CO) Average	National Average
2025	3%	10%	9%
2024	3%	10%	9%
2023	4%	10%	9%
2022	3%	11%	8%
2021	3%	11%	9%
2020	3%	10%	9%
2019	4%	10%	8%
2018	4%	10%	8%
2017	4%	9%	8%
2016	4%	9%	8%
2015	4%	10%	8%

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# Black Students

4 Students

1,520 Students

% Black Students

View Data

Black Student Percentage Trends
Year	La Plata County Average	Colorado (CO) Average	National Average
2025	1%	3%	8%
2024	1%	3%	8%
2019	1%	3%	8%
2018	1%	3%	8%

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# White Students

280 Students

27,413 Students

% White Students

47%

57%

View Data

White Student Percentage Trends
Year	La Plata County Average	Colorado (CO) Average	National Average
2025	47%	57%	55%
2024	51%	58%	55%
2023	51%	56%	55%
2022	48%	56%	57%
2021	48%	56%	57%
2020	51%	57%	58%
2019	48%	57%	59%
2018	48%	53%	59%
2017	50%	54%	61%
2016	50%	53%	61%
2015	50%	60%	61%

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# Hawaiian Students

n/a

40 Students

% Hawaiian Students

n/a

# Two or more races Students

n/a

% of Two or more races Students

n/a

# Others Students

251 Students

12,566 Students

% of Others Students

42%

26%

View Data

Other Races Student Percentage Trends
Year	La Plata County Average	Colorado (CO) Average	National Average
2025	42%	26%	22%
2024	38%	25%	22%
2023	36%	27%	22%
2022	39%	26%	22%
2021	39%	26%	20%
2020	37%	26%	19%
2019	39%	26%	20%
2018	39%	31%	20%
2017	38%	31%	19%
2016	38%	32%	18%
2015	38%	23%	18%

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All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars

6 extracurriculars

7 extracurriculars

Average Number of Sports

7 sports

6 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private elementary schools in La Plata County, CO?

The private elementary schools in La Plata County, CO include Durango Early Learning Center and St. Columba School.

How many private elementary schools are located in La Plataunty?

5 private elementary schools are located in La Plataunty.

How diverse are private elementary schools in La Plataunty?

La Plataunty private elementary schools are approximately 26% minority students, which is higher than the Colorado private school average of 24%.

What percentage of private elementary schools are religiously affiliated in La Plataunty?

33% of private elementary schools in La Plataunty are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Catholic).

Which private elementary schools in La Plataunty are often viewed compared to one another?

Popular comparisons of private elementary schools in La Plataunty include: The Liberty School vs. St. Columba School, St. Columba School vs. The Liberty School

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