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.
Discrepancies between the rich and poor have been exacerbated even more this year by the COVID-19 pandemic. As states decide whether their school districts will have in-person learning this fall, studies show that low-income students will suffer the greatest “learning loss” due to partial or total remote learning. One contributing factor is that people in low-income districts are less likely to have the technological resources they need.
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 $460 - $1,154 higher median weekly earnings than people with a high school diploma and no college experience, depending on the degree.
Colorado has the 9th 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. Read on for the district ranking and a complete description of our methodology.
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 | Hanover School District 28 | 0.45 | $12,109 | $60,511 |
| 2 | Platte Canyon School District 1 | 0.65 | $9,578 | $71,152 |
| 3 | Englewood School District 1 | 0.88 | $12,946 | $56,030 |
| 4 | Keenesburg Re-3(J) School District | 1.36 | $9,777 | $71,410 |
| 5 | Park School District R-3 | 1.50 | $11,168 | $63,586 |
| 6 | Thompson School District R-2J | 2.23 | $9,280 | $71,572 |
| 7 | Ignacio School District 11 Joint | 2.68 | $13,594 | $52,117 |
| 8 | Bennett School District 29 J | 2.75 | $7,763 | $78,032 |
| 9 | Sargent School District R 33 J | 3.46 | $10,986 | $63,281 |
| 10 | Manitou Springs School District 14 | 3.72 | $11,297 | $65,996 |
| 11 | Eaton School District Re-2 | 3.82 | $8,415 | $78,878 |
| 12 | Denver School District 1 | 4.47 | $11,888 | $63,793 |
| 13 | Durango School District 9-R | 4.55 | $11,059 | $67,526 |
| 14 | Garfield School District 16 | 4.76 | $11,253 | $66,783 |
| 15 | Weld County Re-8 School District | 4.81 | $11,007 | $67,907 |
| 16 | Poudre School District R-1 | 5.28 | $10,107 | $66,156 |
| 17 | Plateau Valley School District 50 | 5.31 | $9,652 | $68,162 |
| 18 | Weldon Valley School District 20J | 5.77 | $12,120 | $56,912 |
| 19 | Platte Valley School District Re-3 | 5.81 | $18,265 | $36,176 |
| 20 | Hi Plains School District R-23 | 6.32 | $16,458 | $37,292 |
| 21 | Gilcrest Re-1 | 6.61 | $11,014 | $61,358 |
| 22 | Rangely School District Re-4 | 6.88 | $10,334 | $72,083 |
| 23 | Woodland Park School District Re-2 | 7.00 | $9,191 | $69,247 |
| 24 | Frenchman School District R 3 | 7.31 | $13,198 | $59,583 |
| 25 | Aguilar Reorganized School District 6 | 7.45 | $16,740 | $43,897 |
| 26 | Mapleton School District 1 | 8.41 | $9,979 | $64,934 |
| 27 | Walsh School District Re 1 | 8.73 | $14,315 | $45,455 |
| 28 | Adams 12 Five Star Schools District | 8.98 | $9,474 | $77,109 |
| 29 | Prairie School District Re-11J | 9.10 | $12,732 | $52,292 |
| 30 | Bayfield School District 10 Joint | 10.18 | $10,292 | $62,534 |
| 31 | Johnstown-Milliken Re-5J School District | 10.19 | $7,980 | $84,450 |
| 32 | Garfield School District R 2 | 10.45 | $9,213 | $67,181 |
| 33 | West End School District Re-2 | 10.57 | $14,161 | $45,089 |
| 34 | Strasburg School District 31J | 12.01 | $8,609 | $82,687 |
| 35 | East Grand School District 2 | 12.08 | $11,005 | $72,063 |
| 36 | North Park School District R 1 | 13.37 | $16,392 | $48,828 |
| 37 | Byers School District 32 J | 13.40 | $7,784 | $71,860 |
| 38 | Lone Star School District 101 | 13.55 | $14,185 | $58,750 |
| 39 | La Veta School District R 2 | 13.59 | $13,251 | $47,417 |
| 40 | Jefferson County School District R-1 | 13.97 | $9,756 | $78,705 |
| 41 | Cripple Creek-Victor School District Re-1 | 14.10 | $15,270 | $54,237 |
| 42 | Dolores County Re No 2 | 14.57 | $14,048 | $43,313 |
| 43 | Sheridan School District 2 | 14.62 | $13,922 | $43,844 |
| 44 | Ridgway School District R-2 | 15.38 | $13,603 | $62,386 |
| 45 | Norwood School District R-2J | 15.95 | $15,335 | $55,000 |
| 46 | Calhan School District R Joint 1 | 16.27 | $9,328 | $63,350 |
| 47 | Falcon School District 49 | 16.28 | $8,180 | $87,033 |
| 48 | Genoa-Hugo School District C113 | 16.28 | $11,589 | $53,281 |
| 49 | Miami Yoder School District 60 Joint | 16.37 | $11,370 | $54,205 |
| 50 | Buena Vista School District R-31 | 16.60 | $11,268 | $54,523 |
| 51 | Otis School District R-3 | 16.66 | $11,996 | $51,250 |
| 52 | Park County School District Re-2 | 16.70 | $9,810 | $60,958 |
| 53 | Stratton School District R 4 | 17.01 | $11,987 | $51,094 |
| 54 | Widefield School District 3 | 17.05 | $8,425 | $66,919 |
| 55 | Adams County School District 50 | 17.30 | $10,663 | $56,816 |
| 56 | Idalia School District Rj-3 | 17.99 | $12,671 | $68,021 |
| 57 | Fountain School District 8 | 18.20 | $9,715 | $60,523 |
| 58 | Peyton School District 23Jt | 18.75 | $9,571 | $82,252 |
| 59 | Buffalo School District Re 4 | 18.98 | $11,465 | $52,292 |
| 60 | Big Sandy School District 100J | 19.00 | $10,944 | $54,600 |
| 61 | St Vrain Valley School District Re-1J | 19.03 | $9,659 | $82,022 |
| 62 | West Grand School District 1-Joint | 19.18 | $14,345 | $61,250 |
| 63 | Deer Trail School District 26 J | 20.30 | $12,278 | $47,917 |
| 64 | Manzanola School District 3 Joint | 20.55 | $14,807 | $36,518 |
| 65 | Arriba-Flagler Csd #20 | 21.01 | $12,281 | $47,500 |
| 66 | Clear Creek School District Re-1 | 21.04 | $12,632 | $69,936 |
| 67 | Salida School District R-32 | 21.08 | $10,657 | $54,685 |
| 68 | Ault-Highlands School District Re-9 | 21.10 | $9,174 | $61,274 |
| 69 | Holyoke School District Re 1J | 21.59 | $10,348 | $55,772 |
| 70 | Platte Valley School District Re-7 | 21.59 | $12,166 | $72,328 |
| 71 | Cheyenne Mtn School District 12 | 21.66 | $8,686 | $87,854 |
| 72 | South Routt School District Re-3 | 21.97 | $15,401 | $58,143 |
| 73 | Woodlin School District R-104 | 22.17 | $18,802 | $43,125 |
| 74 | Windsor School District Re-4 | 22.23 | $8,082 | $90,865 |
| 75 | Pueblo County School District 70 | 22.28 | $8,136 | $65,222 |
| 76 | Bethune School District R 5 | 22.33 | $17,152 | $50,556 |
| 77 | Swink School District 33 | 23.25 | $9,425 | $58,933 |
| 78 | Cheyenne County School District Re-5 | 23.28 | $16,453 | $54,208 |
| 79 | Adams-Arapahoe School District 28J | 23.39 | $10,183 | $55,478 |
| 80 | Cotopaxi School District Re-3 | 23.66 | $13,297 | $41,467 |
| 81 | Gilpin School District R 1 | 23.94 | $11,678 | $75,839 |
| 82 | Colo Springs School District 11 | 24.32 | $10,641 | $52,911 |
| 83 | Gunnison Watershed School District Re-1J | 25.11 | $9,972 | $55,435 |
| 84 | Steamboat Springs School District Re-2 | 25.16 | $11,027 | $79,431 |
| 85 | Telluride School District R-1 | 25.72 | $13,861 | $67,137 |
| 86 | Summit County School District Re 1 | 26.11 | $11,614 | $77,363 |
| 87 | Brighton School District 27 J | 26.17 | $8,494 | $91,283 |
| 88 | Cheraw School District 31 | 26.94 | $11,053 | $49,583 |
| 89 | Hayden School District Re1 | 27.27 | $13,043 | $71,667 |
| 90 | South Conejos School District Re-10 | 27.36 | $15,912 | $27,717 |
| 91 | Lake County School District R-1 | 27.63 | $11,563 | $46,918 |
| 92 | Mancos School District Re-6 | 28.52 | $9,392 | $56,074 |
| 93 | Mountain Valley School District Re-1 | 28.93 | $21,272 | $35,990 |
| 94 | Hoehne Reorganized School District 3 | 29.59 | $9,064 | $56,918 |
| 95 | Peetz Plateau School District Re-5 | 29.66 | $15,924 | $60,208 |
| 96 | Mcclave School District Re 2 | 29.75 | $11,418 | $46,354 |
| 97 | Greeley School District 6 | 29.77 | $9,625 | $54,321 |
| 98 | Mesa CountyValley School District 51 | 29.84 | $9,796 | $53,519 |
| 99 | Wray School District Rd-2 | 30.08 | $10,737 | $49,194 |
| 100 | Center 26 J T | 30.18 | $12,783 | $40,030 |
| 101 | Roaring Fork School District Re 1 | 30.23 | $11,277 | $81,213 |
| 102 | Kiowa County School District Re-1 | 30.97 | $12,772 | $39,630 |
| 103 | Littleton School District 6 | 30.99 | $10,756 | $83,967 |
| 104 | Del Norte School District C-7 | 31.59 | $13,046 | $38,059 |
| 105 | De Beque School District Joint 49 | 31.86 | $15,667 | $62,604 |
| 106 | Wiley School District Re-13 Joint | 32.24 | $10,867 | $47,383 |
| 107 | Yuma School District 1 | 32.87 | $10,744 | $47,569 |
| 108 | Elbert School District 200 | 33.07 | $11,633 | $81,250 |
| 109 | Ellicott School District 22 | 33.71 | $8,646 | $56,431 |
| 110 | Dolores School District Re4A | 33.78 | $9,116 | $54,298 |
| 111 | Cherry Creek School District 5 | 34.14 | $10,820 | $85,480 |
| 112 | Hinsdale County School District Re-1 | 34.62 | $18,292 | $52,500 |
| 113 | Ouray School District R-1 | 34.87 | $17,263 | $57,222 |
| 114 | Sangre De Cristo School District Re-22J | 35.21 | $11,771 | $41,667 |
| 115 | Wiggins School District 50 Joint | 35.36 | $8,617 | $55,615 |
| 116 | Akron School District 1 | 35.45 | $10,570 | $46,875 |
| 117 | Florence School District Re-2 | 36.13 | $9,840 | $49,733 |
| 118 | Elizabeth School District C-1 | 36.15 | $8,498 | $96,959 |
| 119 | Boulder Valley School District Re-2 | 36.74 | $12,154 | $81,028 |
| 120 | Sanford School District 6J | 36.95 | $10,447 | $46,563 |
| 121 | Brush School District R 2J | 37.08 | $9,482 | $50,788 |
| 122 | Moffat County School District Re-1 | 37.73 | $8,944 | $52,807 |
| 123 | Centennial School District R 1 | 37.90 | $14,890 | $26,250 |
| 124 | Limon School District Re 4 J | 38.49 | $9,849 | $48,346 |
| 125 | Karval School District R 23 | 38.52 | $21,881 | $38,750 |
| 126 | Moffat School District 2 | 38.64 | $15,371 | $23,686 |
| 127 | Eagle County School District Re-50 | 38.84 | $11,671 | $84,372 |
| 128 | Fort Morgan School District 3 | 39.34 | $9,114 | $51,135 |
| 129 | Adams School District 14 | 39.79 | $9,796 | $47,839 |
| 130 | Sierra Grande School District R-30 | 39.80 | $13,076 | $33,235 |
| 131 | Pawnee School District Re 12 | 40.68 | $19,034 | $52,656 |
| 132 | Kim Reorganized School District 88 | 41.10 | $19,404 | $51,250 |
| 133 | Consolidated C-1 | 42.03 | $10,489 | $43,476 |
| 134 | Meeker School District Re-1 | 42.15 | $9,177 | $49,250 |
| 135 | Burlington School District Re-6J | 42.40 | $8,229 | $53,327 |
| 136 | Fowler School District R4J | 42.64 | $10,653 | $42,399 |
| 137 | Academy School District 20 | 42.91 | $8,966 | $98,738 |
| 138 | Canon City School District Re-1 | 42.97 | $9,600 | $46,899 |
| 139 | Plainview School District, Kiowa Re-2 | 44.07 | $22,143 | $40,750 |
| 140 | Archuleta County School District 50 | 45.52 | $8,548 | $50,126 |
| 141 | Holly School District R 3 | 46.16 | $10,247 | $42,197 |
| 142 | Briggsdale Re-10J | 47.12 | $15,892 | $70,313 |
| 143 | Primero Reorganized School District 2 | 47.90 | $20,276 | $51,250 |
| 144 | Montrose County School District Re-1J | 47.92 | $8,555 | $48,726 |
| 145 | Harrison School District 2 | 48.21 | $9,459 | $44,536 |
| 146 | Granada School District R 1 | 48.90 | $12,637 | $30,000 |
| 147 | Edison School District 54 Joint | 49.71 | $9,197 | $44,844 |
| 148 | Haxtun School District Re 2J | 50.63 | $9,980 | $40,833 |
| 149 | Valley School District Re-1 | 51.02 | $8,430 | $47,512 |
| 150 | Julesburg School District Re-1 | 51.04 | $7,694 | $50,774 |
| 151 | Huerfano School District Re 1 | 51.19 | $11,103 | $35,519 |
| 152 | Delta County School District J 50 | 53.59 | $8,703 | $44,827 |
| 153 | Trinidad School District 1 | 53.67 | $10,174 | $38,238 |
| 154 | Crowley County School District Re-1 | 54.40 | $10,327 | $37,138 |
| 155 | Kiowa School District C-2 | 54.89 | $12,278 | $90,833 |
| 156 | Arickaree School District R 2 | 54.99 | $18,446 | $63,438 |
| 157 | Montezuma-Cortez School District Re-1 | 55.67 | $8,858 | $42,951 |
| 158 | Campo School District Re 6 | 57.52 | $25,927 | $31,591 |
| 159 | Pueblo City School District 60 | 59.27 | $9,431 | $38,349 |
| 160 | Rocky Ford School District R-2 | 59.46 | $10,621 | $32,942 |
| 161 | Vilas School District Re 5 | 59.71 | $20,667 | $56,250 |
| 162 | Branson Reorganized School District 82 | 61.57 | $7,361 | $46,250 |
| 163 | Liberty School District J-4 | 61.61 | $21,472 | $53,750 |
| 164 | Monte Vista School District C-8 | 63.20 | $9,060 | $37,757 |
| 165 | Springfield School District Re-4 | 63.27 | $9,906 | $33,953 |
| 166 | Kit Carson School District R 1 | 63.89 | $20,266 | $60,417 |
| 167 | Alamosa School District Re 11J | 64.25 | $8,726 | $38,642 |
| 168 | Lamar School District R 2 | 65.22 | $8,388 | $39,594 |
| 169 | Aspen School District 1 | 65.75 | $18,216 | $70,605 |
| 170 | Pritchett School District Re-3 | 68.15 | $24,214 | $45,278 |
| 171 | North Conejos School District Re-1J | 69.12 | $8,590 | $36,466 |
| 172 | East Otero School District R 1 | 75.41 | $9,071 | $30,739 |
| 173 | Douglas County School District Re 1 | 75.87 | $9,350 | $115,836 |
| 174 | Silverton Public School District 1 | 76.65 | $25,015 | $46,563 |
| 175 | Lewis Palmer School District 38 | 83.72 | $9,654 | $118,963 |
| 176 | Creede Cons School District 1 | 87.60 | $23,163 | $61,058 |
| 177 | Las Animas School District Re-1 | 88.63 | $7,404 | $30,613 |
| 178 | Agate School District 300 | 1080.45 | $148,500 | $69,904 |
*1=Most Equitable
Methodology
In order to rank the states with the most and least equitable school districts, WalletHub first scored 12,919 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.