- Enrollment
- 598
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Cortez, CO
Southwest Open Charter School
Federal NCES profile for Southwest Open Charter School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 080309001692Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 75
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southwest Open Charter School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 84% of Colorado schools.
- #3 of 9
- public schools in Cortez · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.9:1
- small classes for Colorado
- 65.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Southwest Open Charter School has class sizes smaller than 84% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Open Charter School ranks #3 of 9 public schools in Cortez, CO.
School address
District: Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 · Colorado
NCES ID 080309001692 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+21 students YoY
Southwest Open Charter School grew from 113 students in 2022-23 to 134 in 2023-24 (+18.6%).
Teacher FTE lost 11.6 → 10.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+21 students YoY 080309001692 · Cortez, CO High · SMALL · CHARTER
131 enr · 11.9:1 · 65.5% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Montezuma-Cortez High School (598 students)
Southwest Open Charter School grew from 113 students in 2022-23 to 134 in 2023-24 (+18.6%). Teacher FTE lost 11.6 → 10.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Southwest Open Charter School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Montezuma-Cort
Montezuma-Cortez High School
598 students
- Montezuma-Cort
Montezuma-Cortez Middle School
505 students
- Mesa Elementar
Mesa Elementary School
359 students
- Kemper Element
Kemper Elementary School
339 students
- This school 131
Southwest Open Charter School
131 students
- Children's Kiv 130
Children's Kiva Montessori School
130 students
What this shows Southwest Open Charter School reports 131 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southwest Open Charter School compares
Southwest Open Charter School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Colorado and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Colorado | Colorado avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.9:1 | ▼ 28% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 65.5% | ▲ 70% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 131 | top 85% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.9:1
Leaner classes than 76% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
131
Bigger than 13% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
65.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 70% 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
11.9:1
students per teacher
- 28% below state mean
Top 16% in Colorado - lower ratio than 84% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
96.9%
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
$13,684
per pupil, district-wide
- below Colorado avg of $17,910
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 126 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 46.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 28.2%
Hispanic or Latino 19.8%
Two or More 5.3%
Largest group: White at 46.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.1, Southwest Open Charter School is more mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
AP program Not offered
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 reports $13,684 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Southwest Open Charter School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montezuma-Cortez High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Montezuma-Cortez Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mesa Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kemper Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Children's Kiva Montessori School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southwest Open Charter 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
- 130
- Students per teacher
- 10.8:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~131 students)
Frequently asked questions about Southwest Open Charter School
How many students attend Southwest Open Charter School?
Southwest Open Charter School has 131 students enrolled. It is a high school in Cortez, CO. CCD year-over-year: 113 (2022-23) → 134 (2023-24), up 21.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwest Open Charter School?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwest Open Charter School is 11.9:1, which is 28% lower than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 24% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Southwest Open Charter School?
65.5% of students at Southwest Open Charter School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southwest Open Charter School?
The largest demographic group at Southwest Open Charter School is White at 46.6% of enrollment, in Cortez, CO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southwest Open Charter School?
Southwest Open Charter School has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Southwest Open Charter School rank among public schools in Cortez?
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Open Charter School ranks #3 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.
What other schools are in Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1?
Besides Southwest Open Charter School, Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 also operates Montezuma-Cortez High School (598 students), Montezuma-Cortez Middle School (505 students), and Mesa Elementary School (359 students). See the Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 district page for the complete list.