Public schools in Salida, CO
7 open public schools with an address in Salida, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
7
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
1,537
7 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.3:1
Colorado median 15.4:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of Salida public schools
The federal directory lists 7 public schools in Salida, CO: 2 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. The 7 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 1,537 students, an average of 220 per school. The largest campus is Longfellow Elementary School (449 students).
Salida School District No. R-32 operates the most schools here (6), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. 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 13.3:1, 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 1 charter school. 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 38% 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 Salida
Elementary schools in Salida
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longfellow Elementary School Salida School District No. R-32 | KG–04 | 449 | 14.7:1 | |
| Salida Montessori Charter School State Charter School Institute · Charter | PK–08 | 186 | 13.5:1 |
Middle schools in Salida
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crest Academy Salida School District No. R-32 | 05–08 | 60 | 13.3:1 | |
| Salida Middle School Salida School District No. R-32 | 05–08 | 327 | 12.6:1 |
High schools in Salida
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horizons Exploratory Academy Salida School District No. R-32 · Alternative School | 09–12 | 32 | 9.1:1 | |
| Salida High School Salida School District No. R-32 | 09–12 | 409 | 15.6:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Salida
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salida Early Childhood Center Salida School District No. R-32 | PK–PK | 74 | 6.7:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White80.7%
- Hispanic14.3%
- Black0.5%
- Asian0.5%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial3.9%
Enrollment-weighted across 7 Salida schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (1,537 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Salida
How many public schools are in Salida, CO?
The current NCES directory lists 7 open public schools with a location address in Salida: 2 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 1,537 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Salida?
Schools with an address in Salida belong to 2 education agencies, led by Salida School District No. R-32 (6 schools), State Charter School Institute (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Salida?
Salida High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Salida, with 409 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Salida?
Yes. 1 of the 7 public schools in Salida are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Salida Montessori 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 Salida schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Salida public schools is 13.3:1, 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 Salida 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