The Juniper School

Charter School 162 Students

Elementary School K - 6th

School Overview

The Juniper School is a public charter school located in Durango, Colorado, serving students in grades K-8. The school distinguishes itself through a focus on project-based learning and a commitment to integrating arts, humanities, and sciences into a cohesive, inquiry-based curriculum. By fostering a collaborative environment, the school encourages students to become active participants in their education, emphasizing critical thinking, creativity, and the development of strong character traits.

Beyond its academic structure, The Juniper School places a significant emphasis on community and student well-being. It operates with a mission to develop lifelong learners who are connected to their local environment and the broader world. Its location in the heart of Durango allows the school to utilize the surrounding landscape as a "living laboratory," often incorporating local history, culture, and ecology into its lessons to provide students with a well-rounded and deeply contextualized educational experience.

162

Total Students

11.6

Full-Time Teachers

13.9

Student/Teacher Ratio

40.7%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for The Juniper School
Demographic	Student Count
White	132
Hispanic	22
Black	1
Asian	1
Two or More	5
Pacific Islander	1

White
132 (81.5 %)
Hispanic
22 (13.6 %)
Two or More
5 (3.1 %)
Black
1 (0.6 %)
Asian
1 (0.6 %)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.6 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Durango School District No. 9-R
Phone:	(970)403-4262
Grade Range:	K - 6th
Total Students:	162
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	11.6
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	13.9
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	62
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	4

* 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

Kindergarten 28

Grade 1 26

Grade 2 24

Grade 3 24

Grade 4 23

Grade 5 22

Grade 6 15