Public schools in Cortez, CO
8 open public schools with an address in Cortez, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
8
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,257
8 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14.1:1
Colorado median 15.4:1
Charter schools
2
0 virtual
An overview of Cortez public schools
The federal directory lists 8 public schools in Cortez, CO: 4 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. The 8 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,257 students, an average of 282 per school. The largest campus is Montezuma-Cortez High School (598 students), and the largest elementary school is Mesa Elementary School (359).
Every listed school belongs to Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 14.1:1, lower than the statewide school median of 15.4:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 2 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 64% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Cortez
Elementary schools in Cortez
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children's Kiva Montessori School Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 · Charter | KG–08 | 130 | 14.1:1 | |
| Kemper Elementary School Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 | KG–05 | 339 | 13.9:1 | |
| Lewis-Arriola Elementary School Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 | KG–05 | 125 | 15.6:1 | |
| Mesa Elementary School Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 | KG–05 | 359 | 13.4:1 |
Middle schools in Cortez
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montezuma-Cortez Middle School Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 | 06–08 | 505 | 15:1 |
High schools in Cortez
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montezuma-Cortez High School Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 | 09–12 | 598 | 21:1 | |
| Southwest Open Charter School Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 · Charter · Alternative School | 09–12 | 131 | 12.5:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Cortez
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beech Street Preschool Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 | PK–PK | 70 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White45.9%
- Hispanic21.6%
- Black0.2%
- Asian0.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native24.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial7.2%
Enrollment-weighted across 8 Cortez schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,257 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Cortez
How many public schools are in Cortez, CO?
The current NCES directory lists 8 open public schools with a location address in Cortez: 4 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 2,257 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Cortez?
All listed public schools with an address in Cortez belong to Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Cortez?
Montezuma-Cortez High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Cortez, with 598 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Cortez?
Yes. 2 of the 8 public schools in Cortez are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Children's Kiva Montessori School, Southwest Open Charter School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Cortez schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Cortez public schools is 14.1:1, lower than the Colorado school median of 15.4:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Cortez guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Colorado cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Colorado cities