Which high schools are in Durango?
Three public options, plus a district next door. Durango School District 9-R runs two: Durango High School and Durango Big Picture High School (district Our Schools page). Animas High School is a separate tuition-free charter. Here's the lineup at a glance:
| School | Type | Size (school's own figure) |
|---|---|---|
| Durango High School | District comprehensive | About 1,100 students |
| Durango Big Picture High School | District option, internship-based | About 75 students |
| Animas High School | Tuition-free charter | About 200 students |
Take these as ballpark. Every figure comes from the school's own site, and the pages don't date them.
What is Durango High School like?
It's the big one. Durango High School is a public, four-year comprehensive school at 2390 Main Avenue, and its school profile says enrollment is about 1,100. Students need 23 credits to graduate. Honors courses in language arts and history are open to ninth and tenth graders, and juniors and seniors can take Advanced Placement classes.
What else does DHS offer? Per the school, it includes:
- Concurrent enrollment for college credit at Fort Lewis College, Southwest Colorado Community College or San Juan Community College
- Durango Elevation Academy, an alternative program inside DHS for grades 9 to 12
- An online program, the DHS Online Program
What do students study at Durango High?
The core is the usual: math from Algebra through Calculus and Statistical Analysis, English, science (Integrated Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics), history and government, and Spanish and French. Starting with the class of 2021, the school says, students also have to show competency in required subject areas. Each one builds an Individual Career and Academic Plan and meets a real-world experience requirement.
The standout club is the Aerospace Design Team. The school's profile says it won the International Space Settlement Design competition world title seven times, in 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2017. The school's teams are the Demons.
What is Durango Big Picture High School?
A small school built on internships. The school's about page says it opened on August 24, 2009, as one of 9-R's educational options, and graduated its first class in May 2012. The school calls itself a public, four-year school accredited by the Colorado Department of Education. It follows the Big Picture Learning model, which centers on community-based internships and student-driven curriculum. The student-to-advisor ratio is no more than 19 to 1.
How do you get in? You apply with a form on its website. When the school is full, the school says it keeps a waitlist and enrolls students as seats open, so apply early. The office number is (970) 259-0203.
What is Animas High School?
It's a tuition-free public charter school. Animas High School lists about 200 students, a 6-to-1 student-teacher ratio and a project-based curriculum. It says it was founded in Durango in 2009 and builds dual enrollment, internships and post-secondary planning into the program. Because it's a charter, it has its own enrollment events and steps. The school posts an enrollment event calendar on its site.
What about high school outside the district?
Bayfield has its own district. Bayfield High School belongs to the Bayfield School District, a separate system from Durango's 9-R. Our Bayfield guide covers the town.
How do you visit or learn more?
Start on each school's site. DHS posts its course catalog, bell schedule, attendance rules and counseling center online. Big Picture takes calls at its office. Animas runs enrollment events and lists them on a calendar. A quick visit tells you more than a profile page can.
How do you enroll in a Durango high school?
Start with your address. The district assigns a neighborhood school using its boundary map, then you register online. Our answer on enrolling in Durango School District 9-R walks through registration and open enrollment. For preschool through college, see the Durango schools guide. Looking for a college? See colleges in Durango.