Comprehensive education resources for Colorado's 179 school districts, 261 charter schools, and 881,000+ public school students
179 Districts (2024-25)
Nationally (2024 NAEP)
Average FY 2024-25
136,000+ Students
Colorado's Universal Preschool Program (Colorado Preschool Program - CPP) provides 15 hours per week of free preschool for all 4-year-olds (and eligible 3-year-olds) beginning in the 2023-24 school year. Families can choose from licensed childcare centers, preschools, or school-based programs.
The 2024 School Finance Act (SB24-188) completely eliminated the Budget Stabilization Factor (BSF) for the first time in 14 years, increasing total funding by $500+ million to $9.7 billion and raising base per-pupil funding to $11,450 average. This represents Colorado's first fully-funded K-12 education budget since 2010.
Colorado's public education system serves 881,065 students (October 2024 count) across 179 school districts and 1,927 schools statewide. The system employs 55,197 teachers and 4,341 administrators.
| Metric | Count | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total PK-12 Students | 881,065 | Down 0.1% from 2023-24 (881,464) |
| School Districts | 179 | 36 rural, 110 small rural |
| Public Schools | 1,927 | Traditional + Charter |
| Charter Schools | 261 | 136,000+ students (15%+ of total) |
| Teachers | 55,197 | Average salary: $60,775 |
| Homeschool Students | 9,826 | Up 4.5% from previous year |
| Multilingual Learners | 105,362 | Up 10% year-over-year |
| Online Program Students | 33,629 | Up 5.6% from 2023-24 |
Colorado's 2024-25 PK-12 enrollment of 881,065 is the lowest in a decade, continuing a multi-year decline driven by declining birth rates, rising housing costs, and increased homeschooling. However, the rate of decline has slowed compared to recent years, partly due to immigrant student enrollment increases.
The Colorado Department of Education provides leadership, resources, support, and accountability to Colorado's 179 school districts, 1,927 schools, 55,197 teachers, and 4,341 administrators serving 883,264 public school students.
| Website | www.cde.state.co.us |
| Address | 201 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO 80203 |
| Phone | (303) 866-6600 |
Colorado has 179 public school districts as of the 2024-25 school year. All school districts in Colorado are independent governments operating under local control.
| District | Location | Enrollment | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Public Schools (DPS) | Denver | 90,450 | +2.5% |
| Cherry Creek School District | Greenwood Village | 52,672 | <1% |
| Jefferson County Public Schools (Jeffco) | Golden | ~80,000 | Varies |
| Aurora Public Schools | Aurora | 39,813 | +1.7% |
| Douglas County School District | Castle Rock | ~68,000 | Varies |
Of 15 districts in the Denver metro area, 7 had enrollment increases in 2024-25 (compared to just 3 the previous year), driven primarily by immigrant student enrollment. DPS saw its largest single-year increase at +2.5% (90,450 students).
Colorado offers extensive higher education opportunities through multiple public university systems, community colleges, and private institutions.
| Campus | Enrollment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CSU Fort Collins | 34,218 | +1.3% increase; 2nd largest incoming class in history (5,485 first-years) |
| CSU Pueblo | ~5,000+ | +1% increase; +2% Colorado residents |
| CSU Global | ~15,000+ | +3.9% increase (online university) |
Fall 2024 incoming class is the most diverse in university history: 31% identify as racially or ethnically diverse, 23% are first-generation students, and 65% are Colorado residents.
The University of Colorado system includes four campuses:
University of Colorado System Website
Colorado's community college system provides affordable higher education and workforce training through institutions such as:
Colorado made historic education funding progress in 2024 by fully funding K-12 schools for the first time in 14 years.
| Metric | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Average Per-Pupil Funding | $11,450 | Increase of $780 from 2023-24 |
| Statewide Base Per-Pupil Funding | $8,496.38 | Increase of $419.97 for inflation |
| Total State Funding | $9.7 billion | Increase of $500+ million |
| Budget Stabilization Factor (BSF) | $0 | Completely eliminated for first time since 2010 |
| Special Education Funding | $375.6 million | $1,750 per student with disability |
The 2024 School Finance Act (SB24-188) completely bought down the Budget Stabilization Factor (BSF), which had withheld billions from Colorado schools since 2010. This marks the first year of full funding in 14 years.
Colorado lawmakers increased special education funding by $34.7 million for 2024-25, bringing total funding to $375.6 million. Per-student special education funding increased to $1,750 (up from $1,250 under SB 22-127) and will increase annually by the rate of inflation.
Colorado school funding is calculated based on:
Colorado employs 55,197 teachers across 179 school districts and 261 charter schools, with an average salary of $60,775 (ranked 29th nationally, May 2024).
| Metric | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide Average Salary | $60,775 | 29th nationally (May 2024) |
| Highest Paying District | $99,707 | Boulder Valley Re-2 (2024-25) |
| Median Annual Salary | $54,639 | Across all districts and charter schools |
| 25th Percentile | $46,785 | Entry-level and rural districts |
| 75th Percentile | $62,152 | Experienced teachers in metro areas |
Boulder Valley School District Re-2 offers the highest average teacher salary in Colorado at $99,707 for the 2024-25 school year, significantly above the statewide average of $60,775.
Colorado has 261 public charter schools serving over 136,000 students in the 2024-25 school year, representing more than 15% of total public school enrollment in the state.
| Metric | Count/Details |
|---|---|
| Total Charter Schools | 261 schools (2024-25) |
| Students Served | 136,000+ students (15%+ of state enrollment) |
| Geographic Distribution | 70 localities (urban, suburban, rural) |
| Growth Trend | Increased from 250 schools (2017) to 262 (2024) |
| Enrollment Trend | Growing faster than traditional district schools |
While traditional district-run school enrollment has declined, charter school enrollment continues to grow. As of 2024, charter schools serve over 136,000 Colorado students across 70 communities statewide.
Colorado had 9,826 homeschool students during the 2024-25 academic year, representing a 4.5% increase from the previous year's 9,406 homeschooled students.
| Option | Requirements | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Home-Based Education Program | Written notification 14 days prior, attendance records, testing at grades 3/5/7/9/11 | Most families (most common option) |
| 2. Independent (Umbrella) School | Enroll with Colorado-based independent school | Families wanting additional structure/support |
| 3. Colorado Teaching License | Parent obtains/maintains certified teaching license | No reporting or testing requirements |
This is the most common homeschooling option in Colorado. Requirements include:
Homeschool instruction must include (but is not limited to):
Colorado homeschool enrollment has grown steadily, increasing 4.5% year-over-year to reach 9,826 students in 2024-25. This trend reflects nationwide homeschool growth accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Colorado students continue to outperform national averages on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), though performance remains below pre-pandemic levels.
| Grade & Subject | Colorado Average | National Average | Colorado Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4th Grade Reading | 221 | 214 | Near top of all states |
| 4th Grade Math | Not specified | Not specified | Matched national public average |
| 8th Grade Reading | 265 | Not specified | #2 nationally |
| 8th Grade Math | 33% proficient | 27% proficient | Above national average |
Colorado ranked 2nd nationally for 8th grade reading on the 2024 NAEP, with an average score of 265 — higher than all but one state. Colorado 4th graders also scored significantly above the national average in reading (221 vs. 214).
Despite strong overall performance, significant achievement gaps persist. Students eligible for free/reduced lunch, students with disabilities, Black students, Hispanic students, and multilingual learners continue to have lower average scores than their peers across both grades and subjects assessed by NAEP.
Colorado maintains rigorous academic standards in all core subjects. The State Board of Education completed a review and revision of Colorado Academic Standards in December 2024.
Colorado's Universal Preschool Program launched in the 2023-24 school year, providing 15 hours per week of free preschool for all 4-year-olds and eligible 3-year-olds. Families can choose from licensed childcare centers, preschools, or school-based programs.
Colorado offers extensive school choice options:
Colorado provides robust Career and Technical Education programs preparing students for high-demand careers in fields such as healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing, construction, and hospitality.
Colorado served students with disabilities through $375.6 million in special education funding (2024-25), providing $1,750 per student with a disability receiving special education services.
With 105,362 multilingual learners (up 10% year-over-year), Colorado provides extensive English language development services and bilingual education programs.
Last updated on November 24, 2025