Durango School District 9-R Home

We help them find their path to success
 
Portrait of a Graduate
  • 93%
    Graduation rate at Durango High School
  • 29
    Home languages spoken by students
  • 3
    Schools awarded Governor’s Distinguished Improvement
  • 20%
    CMAS test scores rank in top 20% of all Colorado Schools
Durango High School grads

About Us

Welcome to Durango School District 9-R. We strive to create a learning environment where all students own their learning, act on their learning, and impact their community. We provide learning opportunities where students develop their critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication skills. 
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Students examine seedling
Where we’re located
Durango School District map

District News

student conducting ECG test on another student

Community wide ECG drive at Impact Center

A community wide ECG drive is scheduled for April 26 & 27 at Durango School District’s Impact Career Innovation Center at Durango High School (DHS). It is hosted by Future Health Professionals of DHS HOSA. This event is a public service project for the community to perform the appropriate medical tests to inform them if the electrical activity of their heart is working as it should.
students holding certificates

Board of Education Student Awards night

The Durango School District Board of Education Student Awards Night is Thursday, April 25, at the Durango High School gym. The evening begins at 5:00 p.m. for elementary school students, and 7:30 p.m. for middle & high schools students.
potential ballot measure survey

Survey now open on potential ballot measure

Beginning April 18, we encourage everyone in La Plata County – district staff, families, community members – to participate in an important survey regarding public education programs, policies, and a potential ballot measure this November 2024.
Columbine Center

District's Administration Office to reopen April 22 in Bodo Park

On Monday, April 22, 2024, the Durango School District 9-R Administration Office will open to the public in a new location: 281 Sawyer Drive, Suite 100, in the Columbine Center at Bodo Industrial Park. The main phone number will remain the same: (970) 247-5411.
graphic of rocket and space walker

DHS Women in STEM club host design sprint event

Durango High School (DHS) Women in STEM club is hosting a design sprint on Sunday, April 21 for grades 4-8 to build interest in STEM fields and to encourage incoming middle and high schoolers to begin or continue to follow a STEM pathway.
kid using gene sequencing blocks

GFAC Parent Night

Gifted Family Advisory Committee (GFAC) is hosting a parent night for the final GFAC event of the year on May 1 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Impact Center. 
Nisia Patalan, Durango's Gifted Regional Coordinator, will be presenting on overexcitabilities and how they can impact gifted students.
Folklorico dancers at Multicultural Festivalin 2023

2024 Multicultural Celebration, April 19

The 2024 Multicultural Celebration will be on April 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Impact Career Innovation Center, at Durango High School. Join us for a celebration of the diverse cultures and languages within our school community. Students will share songs, dances, and poems that celebrate culture and language. Enjoy a delicious potluck with food from around the world.
drawing of happy people in a field

DHS Green Team coloring contest

The Durango High School (DHS) Green Team is sponsoring an elementary school art contest! The process is simple: choose one of 2 coloring pages to complete with your original design and submit your work for the opportunity to receive a Cream Bean Berry gift card. Submissions are due April 15th.
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graduates

Our Mission

The mission of Durango School District 9-R is to ensure each student develops the skills and attributes for lifelong learning and has the ability to compete and contribute in the global community, by guaranteeing equitable educational opportunities in a safe and healthy environment.
Strategic Plan

What people say about us

Olivia Cruz, Headshot

TEACHER

“I get to work in a supportive environment with empathetic people who love what they do, and who genuinely care about student success.”

– Olivia Cruz, High School Science Teacher
Eduardo Gonzalez headshot

PARENT

“My kids have thrived in Durango schools because of the quality of instruction. The teachers in these schools do life-changing work.”

– Eduardo Gonzalez, parent of middle school student
Michaela Richardson headshot

STUDENT

“I have so many opportunities, and I have come to love school. Now I want to inspire others, and be on the Board to be that person that others can look up to.”

– Michaela Richardson, high school student and Student Board Member
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Superintendent

Superintendent's Message

Welcome to beautiful Durango and La Plata County! Our schools – and our community – are committed to ensuring all students reach proficiency in all content areas as well as have a high level of social-emotional well-being. Our primary objective in the Durango School District is to help every student achieve their life's purpose through Portrait of a Graduate. This is our district's "north star." It inspires students to find their Ikigai. This is a Japanese concept that incorporates four essential criteria: what you love (your passion), what the world needs (your mission), what you are good at (your vocation), and what you can get paid for (your profession). East meets West with this ancient philosophy in a modern mountain town.
Meet our district leaders

Universal Calendar

Bike Rodeo

Location: 2900 Mesa Ave Durango, CO 81301
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Engineer Mountain in fall

Quality of Life

Durango is a beautiful place to live and work. It is located at 6,512 feet elevation in Southwest Colorado near the Four Corners region. Families who live here enjoy a historic steam train, ski resort, rivers, vibrant downtown, bike trails, sky-high “fourteener” mountains, and four distinct seasons with an average of 266 sunny days per year. We welcome new families and new staff members, and we offer excellent benefits and competitive salaries. 
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Teacher Elfreida Begay

Land Acknowledgement

We respectfully acknowledge that Durango School District 9-R is located on lands and territories taken from the Núuchiu (Ute) people. This land is also the ancestral home of or served as a site of trade, gathering, or healing for Apache, Pueblo, Diné, and other nations. We recognize and honor these peoples and nations as traditional stewards of this land and water and respect their enduring relationship with it.
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