- Lake City Community School — Grades PK–12 · 75 students
- Rodger Quist Middle Lake City — Grades 6–8 · 855 students
- Otho E Stuart Middle Lake City — Grades 6–8 · 794 students
- Prairie View Middle Lake City — Grades 6–8 · 679 students
- Overland Trail Middle Lake City — Grades 6–8 · 581 students
- Vikan Middle Lake City — Grades 6–8 · 528 students
- Prairie View High Lake City — Grades 9–12 · 1,809 students
- Riverdale Ridge High Lake City — Grades 9–12 · 1,784 students
- Brighton High Lake City — Grades 9–12 · 1,733 students
- Eagle Ridge Academy — Grades 9–12 · 593 students
- The STEAD Lake City — Grades 9–12 · 421 students
- Colorado Connections @ 27J — Grades K–12 · 2,042 students
- Bromley East Charter Lake City — Grades PK–8 · 1,214 students
- Foundations Academy — Grades K–8 · 763 students
- Landmark Academy at Reunion — Grades K–8 · 758 students
- Discovery Magnet Lake City — Grades K–8 · 692 students
- Belle Creek Charter Lake City — Grades K–8 · 519 students
- Northeast Elementary Lake City — Grades PK–6 · 470 students
- 27J Online Academy — Grades 6–12 · 336 students
- Innovations & Options — Grades 6–12 · 235 students
- Prairie Vista Youth Services Center — Grades 4–12 · 32 students
| Metric | Hinsdale County Lake City District RE-1 | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | — | 3,700 | Data not available |
| Number of Schools | 29 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $11,000/yr (est.) | $13,700/yr | State avg est. |
| District Type | Supervisory Union | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 7/10 — Good | — | Near average |
About Hinsdale County School District RE-1
Hinsdale County School District RE-1 serves zip code 81235, covering Lake City, Colorado with grades K–12. Whether you’re researching a move, evaluating a home purchase, or preparing to enroll a child, the sections below give you a complete picture of this district’s resources, size, and what its rating means for your family.
Funding and Resources
Per-pupil spending at Hinsdale County School District RE-1 runs approximately $11,000 annually, placing it near the Colorado state average of approximately $11,000 and below the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Below-average funding can mean larger class sizes, fewer elective offerings, and limited extracurricular programs. Families with specialized needs should verify specific program availability directly with the district. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
Hinsdale County School District RE-1 is a small, community-focused district with 1 schools serving students from K–12. The district enrolls approximately 81 students in total. Small districts often benefit from tighter community cohesion, more personalized teacher-student relationships, and stronger parental involvement. The trade-off is narrower program variety: fewer elective courses, specialized tracks, or extracurricular options than larger systems offer.
Understanding the 7/10 Rating
SchoolDistrictFinder rates Hinsdale County School District RE-1 7 out of 10 — above average among Colorado public school districts. Our ratings are based on state assessment results — the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, as reported in the U.S. Department of Education’s EDFacts collection. We average each district’s reading and math proficiency, then rank it against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score. Because Colorado is compared only against itself, the rating reflects how this district performs relative to its in-state peers.
Hinsdale County School District RE-1 earns an above-average rating, with reading and math proficiency rates stronger than most other districts in Colorado. Above-average districts generally show solid and consistent academic results across their schools. Families considering this area will find a district with meaningful academic strengths. Research the specific schools assigned to your address — even above-average districts have variation between individual buildings.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 81235
Children in zip code 81235 are assigned to Hinsdale County School District RE-1 for public school enrollment, covering grades K–12. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 81235, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Hinsdale County School District RE-1 at the number listed on the district website or visit the district’s official website. Typical enrollment documents include a signed lease or mortgage statement, birth certificate, state-required immunization documentation, and recent report cards or transcripts. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Colorado districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Lake City
Research consistently shows that district assignment affects residential property values. Because Hinsdale County School District RE-1 serves zip code 81235, district assignment still factors into home-pricing comparisons between zip code 81235 and neighboring areas. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Colorado, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Hinsdale County School District RE-1 programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 81235.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Hinsdale County School District RE-1 before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 81235 data.