Animas High School

Charter School 249 Students

High School 9th - 12th

School Overview

Animas High School (AHS) is a public, project-based charter school located in Durango, Colorado. It is distinguished by its commitment to the "High Tech High" model, which emphasizes rigorous academics through hands-on, interdisciplinary projects rather than traditional testing and lecture-based instruction. The school aims to foster critical thinking, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving skills, requiring students to frequently present their work to community members, experts, and their peers to demonstrate mastery of the curriculum.

Beyond its academic structure, Animas High School is known for its small, inclusive community culture. Because of its smaller student population compared to traditional districts, the school emphasizes strong relationships between students and faculty. The school's mission is centered on preparing students for college and careers by cultivating a sense of "habits of heart and mind," ensuring that graduates are not only academically prepared but also socially responsible and civically engaged citizens.

249

Total Students

22.8

Full-Time Teachers

10.9

Student/Teacher Ratio

26.5%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Animas High School
Demographic	Student Count
White	200
Hispanic	33
Black	2
Asian	1
Two or More	12
American Indian	1

White
200 (80.3%)
Hispanic
33 (13.3%)
Two or More
12 (4.8%)
Black
2 (0.8%)
Asian
1 (0.4%)
American Indian
1 (0.4%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	State Charter School Institute
Phone:	(970)247-2474
Grade Range:	9th - 12th
Total Students:	249
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	22.8
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	10.9
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	53
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	13

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 9 63

Grade 10 66

Grade 11 59

Grade 12 61