CBCS high school ranked as a top school in the state

Full complement of activities

[ By Mark Reaman ]

The Crested Butte Community School high school has once again found itself on the prestigious US News and World report list of the best schools in Colorado and the country. The 2021 rankings released last week put CBCS as the 27th best high school in Colorado and number 905 nationally garnering a score of 94.93 out of 100.

There are 497 high schools listed in the Colorado rankings. Western Slope communities had a good showing along with CBCS as Aspen placed 16th in the state, Telluride was 19th and Paonia was 33rd.

“This is a well-deserved honor again for Crested Butte High School,” exclaimed Gunnison Watershed School District superintendent Leslie Nichols. “Our success with AP courses and a curriculum that provides opportunity for strong college preparation is a testament to the CBHS faculty, staff and leadership. We also pride ourselves on our focus on social-emotional learning and a full complement of activities and athletics to spark students’ curiosity and prepare them for whatever life brings.”
Nichols said the rankings are heavily informed by test scores, college readiness, and AP course engagement. The AP participation rate at the CBCS is 61 percent. US News ranks schools on their performance on state-required tests, graduation and how well they prepare students for college. The CBCS has a 98-percent graduation rate, which is considered well above the state median.

High school principal Stephanie Niemi noted that “almost 18,000 high schools were ranked in the U.S. and the Crested Butte Community School is 905th in the country and 27th in the state! I want to thank the teachers for their tremendous work with students,” she said. “It is so great to end an in-person school year with COVID on such a positive note.”

“As our students discover who they are, we set them up to help make the world a better place, and this honor from US News affirms some of these efforts,” concluded Nichols.

The CBCS high school is no stranger to being a top school in the state and country. The high school has received the honor since 2013 with one exception in 2015.