Colchester School District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Colchester, Vermont - 5 schools

An equity score of 44/100 ranks Colchester School District #50 of 80 districts in Vermont (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $20,786 per pupil, Colchester School District ranks #35 of 102 Vermont districts by per-pupil spending (Vermont districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

2,435
Total Enrollment
5
Schools
$20,786
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Colchester School District operates 5 public schools serving 2,435 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Vermont. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined, 1 high, 1 middle, 1 elementary schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Chittenden County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $20,786 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 102 Vermont districts by per-pupil spending. See how Vermont compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 3.1% local, 88.8% state, and 8.1% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 44/100, ranked #50 of 80 in Vermont against a state average of 51, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 5 schools offering Advanced Placement (11 AP courses district-wide), a 342.4:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 28.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 79.7% White, 5.6% African American, 5.6% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Malletts Bay School, with a diversity index of 38.5/100.

Its largest campus is Colchester High School, enrolling 715 students (29% of the district's total enrollment).

Colchester High School accounts for 29.3% of all Colchester School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Colchester School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Colchester School District school enrollment varies 2.0× across entities

Colchester School District school enrollment ranges from 355 students (lowest) to 715 students (highest), a spread of 360 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Colchester School District student-counselor ratio is 342:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Colchester School District is typically wider than the Colchester School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Colchester School District chronic absenteeism rate is 28.3% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Colchester School District is typically wider than the Colchester School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

8.1%
Federal
88.8%
State
3.1%
Local

Funding Equity

44
Equity Score
50 / 80
State Rank
51
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 5 schools in Colchester School District.

White 79.7%
Hispanic or Latino 4.0%
African American 5.6%
Asian 5.6%
Multiracial 4.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 35.5/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Colchester School District's schools, above the Vermont average of 19.5.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Malletts Bay School 38.5
  2. 2 Union Memorial School 37.5
  3. 3 Colchester High School 34.9
  4. 4 Porters Point School 34.6
  5. 5 Colchester Middle School 31.7

Programs & Resources

1 / 5
Schools with AP
11 AP courses total
342.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
28.3%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Colchester School District

School Enrollment
Colchester High School
715
Colchester Middle School
509
Malletts Bay School
505
Porters Point School
359
Union Memorial School
355

How Colchester School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Vermont districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Barre Unified Union School District #97 Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
South Burlington School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Colchester School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Vermont

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Compare Colchester School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Colchester School District?

Colchester School District has 5 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 1 elementary, 2 combined. Total enrollment is 2,435 students.

How much does Colchester School District spend per student?

Colchester School District spends $20,786 per student. The district has an equity score of 44/100, ranking #50 in Vermont.

What is the demographic composition of Colchester School District?

Colchester School District students are 79.7% White, 5.6% African American, 5.6% Asian, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, averaged across 5 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Colchester School District?

Colchester School District has an equity score of 44/100, ranking #50 out of 80 districts in Vermont.