What share of students in Colorado are proficient in math?

In 2024, 32% of eighth graders in Colorado public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (joint 7th highest among the 50 states and DC) and 35% in reading, compared with 37% and 38% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Colorado, United States: official figures

82.3% of public high school students in Colorado graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 10th lowest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

82.3%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

221

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

278

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$15,908

FY2024

Public school enrollment

865,661

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

47.8%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Colorado rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Colorado was 82.3% in 2021-22, compared with 75% in 2011-12 and 81.1% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Colorado?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Colorado was 71.9% for economically disadvantaged students, 67.9% for students with disabilities and 69.4% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Colorado?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Colorado was 77.0% for Black, 75.1% for Hispanic and 87.3% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Colorado score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Colorado averaged 221 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 4th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 225 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 36% scored at or above Proficient and 35% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Colorado score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Colorado averaged 265 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 3rd highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 267 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 35% scored at or above Proficient and 26% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Colorado score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Colorado averaged 239 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 13th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 242 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 42% scored at or above Proficient and 23% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Colorado score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Colorado averaged 278 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 12th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 285 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 32% scored at or above Proficient and 35% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Colorado spend per student?

Public school systems in Colorado spent $15,908 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 24th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Colorado going up?

Current spending per pupil in Colorado rose from $11,030 in fiscal 2019 to $15,908 in fiscal 2024, up 44.2% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 7.1%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Colorado spend school money on?

Of the $15,908 spent per pupil in Colorado in fiscal 2024, $8,497 went on instruction and $6,788 on support services; salaries and wages came to $9,576 per pupil and employee benefits $3,016.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Colorado come from?

Public school systems in Colorado received $16.6 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 8.4% from the federal government, 36.8% from the state and 54.8% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Colorado spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Colorado was $16.4 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $13.5 billion was current spending and $2.1 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $12.9 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Colorado?

865,661 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Colorado in fall 2023, down 5.2% on fall 2019 (913,223) and down 1.3% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Colorado?

Public schools in Colorado had 53,552 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 16.3 pupils per teacher, 15th most among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Colorado in fall 2019: 16.9).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Colorado have a college degree?

47.8% of adults aged 25 and over in Colorado, about 2,009,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 3rd highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 3.4 percentage points on 2021 (44.4%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Colorado have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 18.7% of adults 25 and over in Colorado had a graduate or professional degree and 8.2% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Colorado did not finish high school?

93.2% of adults 25 and over in Colorado had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 6.8% without one; that share is 13th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Colorado compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Colorado ranks 40 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
37	Rhode Island	83.3%
38	Louisiana	83.1%
39	Vermont	82.8%
40	Colorado	82.3%
41	South Dakota	82.1%
42	Wyoming	81.8%
43	Nevada	81.7%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Colorado ranks 40 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
37	Vermont	75.0%
38	Arizona	73.3%
39	New Hampshire	73.3%
40	Colorado	71.9%
41	Minnesota	71.1%
42	Alaska	70.2%
43	Michigan	69.6%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Colorado ranks 4 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
1	Massachusetts	225
2	New Jersey	222
3	Wyoming	222
4	Colorado	221
5	New Hampshire	221
6	Indiana	220
7	Connecticut	219

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Colorado ranks 3 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
1	Massachusetts	268
2	New Jersey	266
3	Colorado	265
4	New Hampshire	264
5	Connecticut	263
6	Illinois	262
7	Indiana	262

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Colorado ranks 15 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
12	South Dakota	240
13	Ohio	239
14	North Carolina	239
15	Colorado	239
16	Wisconsin	239
17	Connecticut	239
18	Mississippi	239

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Colorado ranks 13 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
10	Ohio	279
11	Montana	279
12	Indiana	278
13	Colorado	278
14	Idaho	278
15	Wyoming	278
16	Illinois	277

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Colorado ranks 7 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
4	Utah	35.1%
5	Minnesota	34.0%
6	South Dakota	33.3%
7	Colorado	32.5%
8	Nebraska	32.5%
9	Illinois	32.3%
10	Ohio	32.1%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Colorado ranks 46 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
43	Connecticut	36.8%
44	Utah	35.5%
45	Mississippi	35.4%
46	Colorado	35.1%
47	Indiana	34.7%
48	New Jersey	33.7%
49	New Hampshire	33.3%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Colorado ranks 28 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
25	Minnesota	$17,098
26	Nebraska	$16,147
27	Wisconsin	$15,952
28	Colorado	$15,908
29	Georgia	$15,833
30	West Virginia	$15,640
31	Louisiana	$15,581

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Colorado ranks 6 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
3	California	+48.1%
4	Hawaii	+48.0%
5	Oregon	+45.2%
6	Colorado	+44.2%
7	Michigan	+43.6%
8	Vermont	+41.9%
9	Utah	+41.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Colorado ranks 6 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
3	Connecticut	56.1%
4	Nebraska	55.9%
5	Florida	55.4%
6	Colorado	54.8%
7	Missouri	53.7%
8	Ohio	53.6%
9	Pennsylvania	52.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Colorado ranks 15 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
12	Michigan	16.7
13	Oklahoma	16.6
14	Ohio	16.4
15	Colorado	16.3
16	Indiana	15.8
17	Minnesota	15.5
18	North Carolina	15.4

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Colorado ranks 43 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
40	Kentucky	-5.0%
41	Vermont	-5.0%
42	California	-5.2%
43	Colorado	-5.2%
44	Rhode Island	-5.2%
45	New York	-5.9%
46	New Mexico	-5.9%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Colorado ranks 3 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
1	District of Columbia	65.5%
2	Massachusetts	48.3%
3	Colorado	47.8%
4	Vermont	45.1%
5	Maryland	44.7%
6	New Jersey	44.5%
7	Virginia	43.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Colorado ranks 39 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
36	Idaho	7.5%
37	Nebraska	7.4%
38	Iowa	7.0%
39	Colorado	6.8%
40	Alaska	6.6%
41	Utah	6.4%
42	Wisconsin	6.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Colorado: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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