While the U.S. is one of the most educated countries in the world, it doesn’t provide the same quality elementary school or secondary school education to all students. In many states, more affluent school districts receive a greater amount of funding per student than poorer districts, with one estimate claiming that low-income districts are underfunded by around $6,700 per pupil.
Discrepancies between the rich and poor were exacerbated a lot during the COVID-19 pandemic. Low-income students suffered the greatest “learning loss” due to partial or total remote learning. One contributing factor was that people in low-income districts are less likely to have the technological resources they need. Now, less fortunate students must struggle to make up the educational ground that they lost due to this lack of resources.
States that provide equitable funding to all school districts can help prevent poor students from having lower graduation rates, lower rates of pursuing higher education and smaller future incomes than their wealthy peers. The difference is dramatic: College graduates have $154 - $1,115 higher median weekly earnings than people with a high school diploma and no college experience, depending on the degree.
Colorado has the 14th least equitable school districts in the U.S. overall, but some districts within the state are fairer than others. To find out where school funding is distributed most equitably, WalletHub scored 178 districts in Colorado based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil.
Main Findings
Note: For visual purposes, we included only the top 7 school districts by enrollment from each category. Rank 1 on the “Expenditures Ranking” means highest expenditures and Rank 1 on “Income Ranking” means lowest income.
Most & Least Equitable School Districts in Colorado
Rank* | School District | Score | Expeditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Schools per Pupil | Income by School District |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Big Sandy School District No. 100J | 0.65 | $15,087 | $63,625 |
2 | Mapleton School District No. 1 In The County Of Adams | 0.83 | $12,564 | $73,873 |
3 | Plateau Valley School District No. 50 In The County Of Mesa | 1.00 | $11,882 | $78,098 |
4 | School District No. Re-2 Brush | 1.00 | $14,747 | $64,063 |
5 | Aurora Joint District No. 28 Of The Counties Of Adams And Arapahoe | 1.11 | $14,853 | $64,964 |
6 | School District No. Re-11 In The County Of Weld | 1.50 | $13,872 | $69,583 |
7 | Poudre School District R-1 | 1.93 | $12,021 | $78,085 |
8 | East Grand School District No. 2 | 2.05 | $14,158 | $68,670 |
9 | Garfield School District No. Re-2 | 2.40 | $12,573 | $75,941 |
10 | Byers School District No. 32J | 2.88 | $7,570 | $94,734 |
11 | Lone Star School District No. 101 | 2.97 | $13,879 | $66,635 |
12 | Sangre De Cristo School District No. Re-22J | 3.16 | $16,808 | $57,614 |
13 | Miami-Yoder Joint District No. 60 Of The Counties Of El Paso, Elbert and Lincoln | 3.29 | $17,831 | $53,150 |
14 | Weld County School District Re-3J | 3.44 | $11,491 | $76,945 |
15 | South Conejos School District No. Re10 | 4.01 | $21,583 | $31,724 |
16 | Deer Trail School District No. 26J | 4.72 | $11,929 | $80,313 |
17 | Park County School District No. Re-2 | 5.73 | $13,787 | $65,250 |
18 | La Veta School District Re-2 | 6.08 | $17,354 | $49,167 |
19 | Westminster Public Schools | 6.17 | $15,628 | $64,818 |
20 | School District No. Re-3 Frenchman | 6.19 | $15,415 | $65,776 |
21 | Dolores County School District Re-2J | 6.29 | $16,580 | $60,667 |
22 | School District No. Re-50 Wiggins | 6.33 | $9,909 | $90,341 |
23 | Salida School District No. R-32 | 6.49 | $13,909 | $64,212 |
24 | Agate School District No. 300 | 6.58 | $17,356 | $57,404 |
25 | Weld Re-8 Schools | 6.75 | $13,246 | $75,784 |
26 | Mcclave School District No. Re-2 | 7.44 | $17,355 | $48,281 |
27 | Manitou Springs School District No. 14 In The County Of El Paso | 7.66 | $13,019 | $77,386 |
28 | Karval School District No. Re 23 | 7.71 | $21,720 | $38,750 |
29 | Weld County School District No. Re-5J | 7.77 | $9,939 | $91,145 |
30 | Otis School District No. R-3 | 8.26 | $14,754 | $59,306 |
31 | North Park School District R-1 | 8.33 | $18,038 | $44,667 |
32 | Mountain Valley School District No. Re 1 | 9.09 | $17,468 | $46,705 |
33 | Woodland Park School District No. Re-2 | 9.55 | $12,339 | $69,195 |
34 | Wiley School District No. Re-13 Jt | 9.58 | $11,966 | $70,833 |
35 | Revere School District | 10.09 | $19,130 | $38,667 |
36 | Primero Reorganized School District No. 2 | 10.09 | $17,367 | $46,500 |
37 | Weld County School District No. Re-2 | 10.27 | $9,830 | $93,257 |
38 | Hanover School District No. 28 In The County Of El Paso | 10.40 | $13,232 | $78,224 |
39 | School District No. 3 In The County Of El Paso | 11.02 | $10,683 | $75,597 |
40 | De Beque Joint District No. 49 Of The Counties Of Mesa And Garfield | 11.32 | $15,363 | $69,348 |
41 | Ridgway School District No. R-2 Of The County Of Ouray | 11.50 | $16,087 | $66,250 |
42 | Grand Valley School District No. 16 In The County Of Garfied | 11.60 | $13,117 | $64,405 |
43 | Moffat School District No. 2 In The County Of Saguache | 12.17 | $20,273 | $48,079 |
44 | West Grand School District No. 1 | 12.86 | $16,010 | $67,474 |
45 | Sierra Grande School District No. R-30 | 13.02 | $17,682 | $43,190 |
46 | El Paso County Colorado School District 49 | 13.59 | $9,082 | $98,741 |
47 | School District N. 14 In The County Of Adams | 13.61 | $14,205 | $58,259 |
48 | Buena Vista School District No. R-31 | 13.70 | $14,518 | $56,810 |
49 | Gunnison Watershed School District Re1J | 13.81 | $12,985 | $63,554 |
50 | Lake County School District No. R-1 | 13.91 | $14,899 | $73,099 |
51 | Bennett School District No. 29J | 14.03 | $8,673 | $100,847 |
52 | Sheridan School District No. 2 | 14.05 | $20,026 | $50,401 |
53 | School District No. 1 In The County Of Denver | 14.24 | $13,804 | $78,177 |
54 | Weld County School District No. Re-9 | 14.60 | $10,912 | $72,250 |
55 | Weld County Reorganized School District No. Re-1 | 14.77 | $13,274 | $80,882 |
56 | Custer County School District Consolidate 1 | 14.88 | $14,262 | $57,177 |
57 | Sargent School District No. Re-33J | 14.89 | $13,309 | $80,804 |
58 | Idalia Rj-3 School District | 15.53 | $14,939 | $73,977 |
59 | Ignacio School District No. 11Jt | 16.89 | $18,439 | $59,306 |
60 | Center Consolidated School District No. 26 Jt. Of The County of Saguache | 16.92 | $16,484 | $45,975 |
61 | Durango School District No. 9-R | 16.97 | $10,055 | $74,516 |
62 | Fountain School District No. 8 In The County Of El Paso | 17.19 | $11,560 | $67,682 |
63 | Hi-Plains R-23 | 17.83 | $14,742 | $53,125 |
64 | Rangely School District Re4 | 17.98 | $13,237 | $59,718 |
65 | Weld County Reorganized School District No. Re-4 | 18.29 | $9,518 | $99,863 |
66 | Steamboat Springs School District No. Re 2 | 18.45 | $13,042 | $84,306 |
67 | Fremont Re-3 | 18.67 | $17,016 | $42,469 |
68 | Adams 12 Five Star Schools | 18.68 | $12,402 | $87,305 |
69 | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 In The County Of El Paso | 18.75 | $12,490 | $62,534 |
70 | Peyton School District No. 23 In The County Of El Paso | 19.00 | $11,468 | $91,662 |
71 | Manzanola Joint District No. 3J Of The Counties Of Otero And Crowley | 19.88 | $14,407 | $53,281 |
72 | School District No. Re-20 Weldon Valley | 20.19 | $14,906 | $50,859 |
73 | Weld County School District No. Re-7 | 20.48 | $15,130 | $76,349 |
74 | Bayfield School District No. 10Jt-R | 20.71 | $12,182 | $89,600 |
75 | Englewood School District No. 1 In The County Of Arapahoe | 20.91 | $16,783 | $69,283 |
76 | Aguilar Reorganized School District No. 6 | 20.95 | $25,200 | $31,902 |
77 | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | 21.79 | $11,419 | $93,693 |
78 | Walsh School District No. Re-1 | 22.06 | $18,000 | $35,893 |
79 | Upper Rio Grande School District C-7 | 22.07 | $15,597 | $46,563 |
80 | Meeker School District Re1 | 22.23 | $13,164 | $57,271 |
81 | Arriba-Flagler Consolidated School District No. 20 | 22.54 | $17,161 | $39,306 |
82 | Swink School District No. 33 In The County Of Otero | 22.93 | $12,297 | $60,667 |
83 | Hoehne Reorganized School District No. 3 | 23.10 | $11,185 | $65,500 |
84 | Thompson School District R-2J | 23.27 | $13,797 | $84,092 |
85 | Archuleta County School District No. 50 Jt | 23.28 | $11,813 | $62,592 |
86 | Strasburg School District 31J | 24.11 | $9,531 | $103,598 |
87 | Ouray School District No. R-1 Of The County Of Ouray | 24.52 | $18,845 | $62,474 |
88 | School District No. R-4 In The County Of Kit Carson | 25.29 | $14,516 | $49,271 |
89 | Cheyenne Mountain School District No. 12 In The County Of El Paso | 25.65 | $9,835 | $103,248 |
90 | School District No. Re-5 Plateau | 26.34 | $17,839 | $68,125 |
91 | Wray Rd-2 School District | 26.76 | $12,509 | $57,234 |
92 | Estes Park School District R-3 | 26.89 | $14,015 | $85,483 |
93 | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | 27.79 | $11,673 | $96,478 |
94 | Eagle County School District No. Re 50 | 27.82 | $13,342 | $89,074 |
95 | School District No. Re-4 Buffalo | 28.09 | $16,620 | $74,688 |
96 | Clear Creek School District No. Re-1 | 28.64 | $16,334 | $76,313 |
97 | Holyoke School District No. Re-1J | 28.77 | $13,337 | $52,243 |
98 | Pueblo County School District 70 | 28.93 | $9,321 | $69,990 |
99 | Cripple Creek-Victor School District No. Re-1 | 29.28 | $18,973 | $65,000 |
100 | Norwood School District No. R-2J | 29.83 | $19,884 | $61,310 |
101 | Cheraw School District No. 31 In The County Of Otero | 29.90 | $13,114 | $52,500 |
102 | Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 | 29.91 | $11,014 | $61,828 |
103 | Pritchett School District No. Re-3 | 30.12 | $22,050 | $51,875 |
104 | Mancos School District Re-6 | 30.40 | $11,508 | $59,313 |
105 | Granada School District No. Re-1 | 30.63 | $15,392 | $41,898 |
106 | Genoa-Hugo School District No. C-113 | 31.02 | $11,613 | $58,438 |
107 | Platte Canyon School District No. 1 Of The County Of Park | 31.65 | $13,273 | $91,875 |
108 | Greeleyschool District No. 6 In The County Of Weld | 31.90 | $11,153 | $59,911 |
109 | Bethune School District No. R- 5 | 32.48 | $21,552 | $55,625 |
110 | School District 27J | 32.54 | $10,157 | $106,303 |
111 | Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1 | 33.64 | $13,450 | $92,385 |
112 | Calhan District No. Rj1 | 34.05 | $11,042 | $59,007 |
113 | Academy School District No. 20 In The County Of El Paso | 34.09 | $10,108 | $107,535 |
114 | Arickaree School District No. R-2 | 34.13 | $22,602 | $52,031 |
115 | School District No. Re-10 In The County Of Weld | 34.55 | $17,777 | $73,750 |
116 | School District No. C-2 In The County Of Elbert | 34.96 | $14,125 | $90,250 |
117 | Huerfano School District Re-1 | 35.11 | $14,439 | $43,220 |
118 | Moffat County School District Re: No. 1 | 35.39 | $10,941 | $58,583 |
119 | School District No. Re-3 Fort Morgan | 35.49 | $10,343 | $61,173 |
120 | Littleton School District No. 6 In The County Of Arapahoe | 35.58 | $12,614 | $97,367 |
121 | Telluride School District No. R-1 | 35.64 | $18,081 | $73,108 |
122 | Montrose County School District Re-1J | 36.82 | $10,510 | $59,568 |
123 | Fremont Re-1 | 36.89 | $11,531 | $54,982 |
124 | Limon School District No. Re 4J | 37.06 | $13,260 | $47,188 |
125 | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 In The County Of Arapahoe | 37.30 | $12,711 | $98,056 |
126 | Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 | 37.98 | $10,594 | $58,439 |
127 | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | 38.23 | $14,027 | $92,813 |
128 | South Routt School District No. Re 3 | 38.32 | $18,358 | $73,621 |
129 | Akron School District No. R-1 | 38.91 | $12,242 | $50,508 |
130 | Dolores School District No. Re-4A | 40.18 | $10,734 | $56,384 |
131 | Harrison School District No. 2 In The County Of El Paso | 40.82 | $11,703 | $51,656 |
132 | West End School District No. Re-2 | 41.13 | $16,023 | $32,256 |
133 | Elbert School District No. 200 | 42.24 | $12,200 | $103,542 |
134 | Haxtun School District No. Re-2J | 42.50 | $12,188 | $48,409 |
135 | Ellicott School District No. 22 In The County Of El Paso | 44.36 | $10,666 | $53,964 |
136 | School District No. Re-1 Valley | 44.42 | $11,588 | $49,824 |
137 | Delta County Joint District No. 50 | 44.71 | $11,094 | $51,830 |
138 | Summit School District No. Re 1 | 44.85 | $14,763 | $93,853 |
139 | Fremont Re-2 | 45.21 | $9,770 | $57,391 |
140 | Cheyenne County School District No. Re-5 | 45.33 | $20,145 | $70,250 |
141 | Edison Joint District No. 54 Of The County Of El Paso | 46.39 | $12,063 | $46,429 |
142 | Kiowa County School District No. Re-2 | 46.75 | $25,682 | $46,563 |
143 | Vilas School District Re-5 | 46.90 | $9,779 | $56,250 |
144 | Burlington Public School District No. Re-6J | 47.33 | $10,012 | $54,934 |
145 | Woodlin School District No. R-104 | 48.77 | $24,923 | $51,250 |
146 | Yuma 1 School District | 49.46 | $10,257 | $52,457 |
147 | Springfield School District No. Re-4 | 49.93 | $13,633 | $37,148 |
148 | East Otero School District No. R1 | 49.99 | $10,622 | $50,489 |
149 | Kim Reorganized School District No. 88 | 50.28 | $28,295 | $37,250 |
150 | Hayden School District No. Re 1 | 51.02 | $15,487 | $94,655 |
151 | Sanford School District No. 6 In The County Of Conejos | 51.40 | $11,564 | $45,385 |
152 | Kiowa County School District No. Re-1 | 52.20 | $11,628 | $44,583 |
153 | Pueblo School District No. 60 In The County Of Pueblo | 52.64 | $10,969 | $47,225 |
154 | Fowler School District No. R4J | 53.39 | $12,117 | $41,635 |
155 | Trinidad School District 1 In The County Of Las Animas | 53.59 | $27,641 | $42,310 |
156 | Holly School District No. Re-3 | 55.54 | $12,284 | $39,489 |
157 | Branson Reorganized School District No. 82 | 56.34 | $7,315 | $61,053 |
158 | Alamosa School District No. Re-11J | 57.75 | $10,693 | $45,124 |
159 | Crowley County School District No. Re-1-J | 58.69 | $12,010 | $38,657 |
160 | Centennial School District No. R-1 | 59.41 | $13,759 | $30,417 |
161 | Monte Vista School District No. C-8 | 59.69 | $9,199 | $50,500 |
162 | Gilpin County School District No. Re-1 | 59.69 | $13,830 | $107,665 |
163 | Rocky Ford School District No. R2 | 60.12 | $12,459 | $35,729 |
164 | Elizabeth School District | 65.09 | $11,292 | $122,461 |
165 | Liberty J-4 School District | 66.80 | $22,092 | $75,577 |
166 | Lamar School District No. Re-2 | 68.12 | $8,997 | $45,903 |
167 | Creede School District | 69.63 | $27,012 | $55,556 |
168 | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | 69.79 | $10,792 | $127,744 |
169 | Kit Carson School District No. R-1 | 69.87 | $24,289 | $67,813 |
170 | Julesburg School District No. Re1 | 70.06 | $8,260 | $47,917 |
171 | Lewis-Palmer Consolidated School District No. 38 In The County Of El Paso | 70.45 | $10,059 | $131,434 |
172 | North Conejos School District No. Re1J | 71.10 | $9,656 | $41,033 |
173 | Las Animas School District No. Re-1 | 79.28 | $9,253 | $37,500 |
174 | Hinsdale County School District No. Re-1 | 85.27 | $31,277 | $46,786 |
175 | Silverton School District No. 1 In The County Of San Juan | 86.43 | $27,723 | $63,333 |
176 | Aspen School District No. 1 In The County Of Pitkin | 86.67 | $20,967 | $93,516 |
177 | School District No. Re-12 In The County Of Weld | 90.99 | $30,492 | $54,000 |
178 | Campo School District No. Re-6 | 223.04 | $53,275 | $38,750 |
*1=Most Equitable
Methodology
In order to rank the states with the most and least equitable school districts, WalletHub first scored 12,870 school districts throughout the U.S. based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil.
For expenditures, for each 1 percent above the state's average we removed 1 point from a base score of 50 points for each district. For household income, for each 1 percent above the state's average we added 1 point to a base score of 50 points for each district. The inverse was true for each 1 percent below the state's average.
The final score for each district was calculated by taking the absolute difference between the score for expenditures and the score for household income. We then ranked the districts based on the total score, with the lowest value, representing the most equitable, being ranked 1.
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from of the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics.
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