Enrollment
598
Colorado · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Cortez, CO
Montezuma-Cortez High School
Federal NCES profile for Montezuma-Cortez High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 080309000840
👥 S:T ratio 28
📚 AP courses 15
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 64
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Montezuma-Cortez High School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of Colorado schools.
- #6 of 9
- public schools in Cortez · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.1:1
- large classes for Colorado
- 44.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Montezuma-Cortez High School has class sizes larger than 73% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Montezuma-Cortez High School ranks #6 of 9 public schools in Cortez, CO.
School address
District: Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 · Colorado
NCES ID 080309000840 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
33.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.1:1
vs 16.6:1 Colorado avg
+9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
44.6%
vs 38.5% Colorado avg
+16% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Montezuma-Cortez High School compares with Colorado and U.S. medians
What stands out at Montezuma-Cortez High School
Montezuma-Cortez High School is a mid-sized high school in Cortez, Colorado, enrolling 598 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 18.1:1 puts it in the larger third of Colorado schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 44.6% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 598 puts it in the larger third of Colorado schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,922 scored Colorado schools.
Against 220 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #101.
Its student body is led by White (48%) and Hispanic or Latino (22%) (diversity index 67/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 3 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage is strong, about 179 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 65.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 spends $11,473 per pupil, 29% below the Colorado average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 15.9% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 3 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 also operates Montezuma-Cortez Middle School (505 students) and Mesa Elementary School (359 students) alongside Montezuma-Cortez High School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Montezuma-Cortez High School compares
Montezuma-Cortez High School on the metrics families compare, against Colorado and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Colorado | Colorado avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.1:1 | ▲ 9% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 44.6% | ▲ 16% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 598 | top 19% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.1:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
598
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
44.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 16% above the Colorado average of 38.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18.1:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 73% in Colorado - lower ratio than 27% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
65.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$11,473
per pupil, district-wide
- below Colorado avg of $16,273
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.3 FTE
Per 179 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 55 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 47.8%
Hispanic or Latino 22.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 21.9%
Two or More 6.4%
Asian 1.3%
African American 0.3%
Largest group: White at 47.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.0, Montezuma-Cortez High School is more mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 3
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1, which includes Montezuma-Cortez High School.
$11,473
Per student
-29%
vs Colorado
Avg $16,273
-31%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 42.2%
State 42.0%
Federal 15.9%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Montezuma-Cortez High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montezuma-Cortez Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mesa Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kemper Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Southwest Open Charter School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Children's Kiva Montessori School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Montezuma-Cortez High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 505
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 359
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 339
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 131
- Students per teacher
- 11.9:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 130
- Students per teacher
- 10.8:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Colorado, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~598 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Montezuma-Cortez High School's federal record.
- Compare Montezuma-Cortez High School against another school. Compare schools
- Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Montezuma-Cortez High School
How many students attend Montezuma-Cortez High School?
Montezuma-Cortez High School has 598 students enrolled. It is a high school in Cortez, CO.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Montezuma-Cortez High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Montezuma-Cortez High School is 18.1:1, which is 9% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Montezuma-Cortez High School?
44.6% of students at Montezuma-Cortez High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Montezuma-Cortez High School?
The largest demographic group at Montezuma-Cortez High School is White at 47.8% of enrollment, in Cortez, CO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Montezuma-Cortez High School?
Montezuma-Cortez High School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Montezuma-Cortez High School rank among public schools in Cortez?
By Resource Investment Index, Montezuma-Cortez High School ranks #6 of 9 public schools in Cortez, CO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Cortez on the city page.
Is Montezuma-Cortez High School a good school?
Montezuma-Cortez High School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of Colorado schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1?
Besides Montezuma-Cortez High School, Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 also operates Montezuma-Cortez Middle School (505 students), Mesa Elementary School (359 students), and Kemper Elementary School (339 students). See the Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.