Needham Elementary School

2425 WEST THIRD AVENUE
DURANGO, CO 81301

388 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

Needham Elementary School, located in the heart of Durango, Colorado, is a central hub for early education within the Durango School District 9-R. Situated on West Third Avenue, the school serves a diverse population of young learners, emphasizing a supportive environment that prioritizes both academic growth and social-emotional development. As a cornerstone of its neighborhood, Needham is well-regarded for its commitment to fostering a strong sense of community and providing students with a well-rounded educational experience that prepares them for success in the later grade levels.

The school is noted for integrating the unique cultural and natural environment of Southwest Colorado into its curriculum. By leveraging its location in Durango, Needham encourages students to engage with their surroundings while focusing on core competencies like literacy, mathematics, and critical thinking. With a dedicated faculty and staff, the school strives to create inclusive classrooms where students are encouraged to explore their interests, participate in collaborative learning, and develop the foundational skills necessary for lifelong learning.

388

Total Students

28.7

Full-Time Teachers

13.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

39.9%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Needham Elementary School
Demographic	Student Count
White	280
Hispanic	55
Black	1
Asian	3
Two or More	16
American Indian	32
Pacific Islander	1

White
280 (72.2 %)
Hispanic
55 (14.2 %)
American Indian
32 (8.2 %)
Two or More
16 (4.1 %)
Asian
3 (0.8 %)
Black
1 (0.3 %)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.3 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Durango School District No. 9-R
Phone:	(970)247-4791
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	388
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	28.7
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	13.5
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	148
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	7

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 45

Kindergarten 53

Grade 1 61

Grade 2 59

Grade 3 71

Grade 4 43

Grade 5 56