Durango School District 9-R
Durango School District 9-R is a publicly funded K-12 school district in Durango, Colorado, serving approximately 4,500 students across 12+ schools via tax revenue and state per-pupil funding, with a current focus on capital modernization, workforce housing, and curriculum expansion.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1881
- HeadquartersDurango, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Durango School District 9-R does
Durango School District 9-R (DSD 9-R) is a publicly funded K-12 school district serving approximately 4,500 students across more than 12 schools in the Durango, Colorado area. Established in the late 19th century, the district operates neighborhood elementary schools, middle schools, and a high school, supplemented by specialized programs including the Impact Career Innovation Center, the SOIL Outdoor Learning Lab, and The Hub therapeutic program. It is governed by an elected school board and funded primarily through a combination of local property taxes, Colorado per-pupil state aid, and federal Title funds tied to enrollment.
The district's core operating model is tax-funded public education delivery, with no commercial revenue mechanics; its "products" are instructional programs, career and technical education pathways, student support services, and facilities. Technology infrastructure is built on standard ed-tech platforms — Infinite Campus (SIS), Edlio (communications/web), Google Workspace, Stopfinder, Abre, and Chromebooks — with no disclosed proprietary technical assets. The district employs between 501 and 1,000 staff, and is increasingly investing in non-instructional infrastructure (e.g., workforce housing) to address regional labor constraints.
Recent strategic activity indicates an expansion-oriented posture: a $150M voter-approved bond (Nov 2024) funds capital projects; acquisition of a 35-unit apartment complex (Oct 2025) signals entry into workforce housing; a new elementary school is under construction (groundbreaking Jun 2026); and a 2026–30 Strategic Plan introduces global employer partnerships and AI literacy targets. Concurrently, the district is consolidating Sunnyside Elementary, suggesting uneven demand across its footprint. The entity should be analyzed as a government/quasi-public institution rather than a traditional investment target — its revenue base is structurally stable but tied to local demographics and state policy, and capital deployment is constrained by voter approval cycles.
Durango School District 9-R firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Durango School District 9-R
- Legal name
- Durango School District 9-R
- Website
- https://durangoschools.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1881
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Durango School District 9-R is a publicly funded K-12 school district in Durango, Colorado, serving approximately 4,500 students across 12+ schools via tax revenue and state per-pupil funding, with a current focus on capital modernization, workforce housing, and curriculum expansion.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Durango School District 9-R industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public K-12 Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools (EDAJACAK), Specialized Programs & Classrooms (Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, Intellectual/Developmental, Multi-Disability) (EDAJAKAH)
Keywords
Where Durango School District 9-R is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Durango
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Durango School District 9-R business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Property Tax Revenue: Primary funding source from local property taxes supporting district operations and facilities. Bond measure (4A) passed November 2024 for $150 million.
- Federal Programs Funding: Federal funding under Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) including Title I, Part A, Title II, Title III, Title IV, and Title VI for Native American education, plus McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance.
- State Funding: Colorado state education funding distributed based on student enrollment and district performance metrics.
- Bond Proceeds: One-time bond funding from 2024 Investing in Our Schools bond ($150 million) for facilities improvements, new construction, and workforce housing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free public K-12 education |
| Freemium | Annual | Free meals program |
| Other | Monthly | After-school programs |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Durango School District 9-R product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Durango School District 9-R is a public K-12 education system serving approximately 4,500 students across seven elementary schools, two middle schools, two high schools, one charter school, and alternative programs in La Plata County, Colorado. The district provides comprehensive educational services including core academics, Career and Technical Education (CTE) through 14 pathways, special education, therapeutic support, outdoor education, free meals, 1:1 Chromebook access for grades 6-12, and workforce housing for staff. Core offerings are structured around the Portrait of a Graduate framework and aligned with Colorado Academic Standards.
Product overview
Durango School District 9-R is a public K-12 education system serving approximately 4,500 students in southwestern Colorado. The district operates a multi-platform educational ecosystem combining traditional schooling with innovative specialized programs. Core offerings include: seven elementary schools, two middle schools, two high schools (Durango High School and Big Picture High School), plus charter and homeschool options. Key specialized programs include the Impact Career Innovation Center (CTE hub with 14 career pathways), SOIL Outdoor Learning Lab (outdoor education at Riverview Elementary), and The Hub Therapeutic Program (mental health support for grades 6-12). The district provides 1:1 Chromebooks for grades 6-12, free meals through CEP, workforce housing for staff, and after-school programs via Boys and Girls Club partnership. The Portrait of a Graduate framework with six competencies guides all student development, supported by the Ignite Mobile Learning Lab bringing STEM to rural schools. Transportation services use Stopfinder for real-time bus tracking. All programs align with the 2026-30 Strategic Plan focused on world-class learning, career-connected education, and organizational excellence.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Hub Therapeutic Program: Therapeutic educational program for students in grades 6-12 with emotional, behavioral, or psychological challenges
- SOIL Outdoor Learning Lab
- Impact Career Innovation Center
- The Juniper School
- Shared School
- The Club@ Durango Schools
Products and services
- Durango School District Schools Network K-12 public education across a network of schools serving students from Pre-K through grade 12 in La Plata County, Colorado. Schools include Animas Valley, Florida Mesa, Fort Lewis Mesa, Needham, Park, Riverview, and Sunnyside Elementary Schools; Miller and Escalante Middle Schools; Durango High School and Durango Big Picture High School; The Juniper School (charter); and Shared School (homeschool enrichment).
- Impact Career Innovation Center Career and Technical Education (CTE) facility on the Durango High School campus offering K-12 collaborative space for skill cultivation, career exploration, daily news show, construction/welding, 3-D prototyping, student businesses, entrepreneurship, and internship portfolio presentations aligned with the Portrait of a Graduate framework.
- SOIL Outdoor Learning Lab Outdoor learning lab at Riverview Elementary School serving all district students, focused on community engagement, horticulture, multigenerational collaboration, cultural and ecological stewardship, and healthy living through hands-on agricultural and ecological education.
- The Hub Therapeutic Program Therapeutic educational model for grades 6-12 students with significant emotional, behavioral, or psychological challenges, providing licensed clinical therapy, case management, social work services, and life skills programming in partnership with community organizations.
- Portrait of a Graduate Framework District vision framework defining six core competencies (Empathetic Collaborator, Resilient Risk-Taker, Agile Thinker, Creative Problem-Solver, Confident Communicator, Courageous Leader) aligned with the Ikigai philosophy and guiding curriculum, instruction, and student development from kindergarten through graduation.
- Chromebook 1:1 Program (Grades 6-12) District-issued Chromebook program for students in grades 6-12 with automatic insurance coverage included at no additional cost, providing access to digital learning resources through the Abre student dashboard and Infinite Campus portal.
- After-School Programs (The Club@Durango Schools) After-school programs offered in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of La Plata County, providing supervision, enrichment activities, and academic support for students outside regular school hours.
- Career Pathways Program (14 Pathways) District-offered career pathways program aligned with Colorado Career Clusters, connecting learning to real-world careers through concurrent enrollment, internships, work-based learning, and industry credentials, supported by the Impact Career Innovation Center.
- Ignite Mobile Learning Lab Mobile STEM learning unit that brings robotics, coding, and engineering programs to the district's most rural schools, supporting equitable access to technology-enhanced, career-connected learning.
- Free Meal Program (CEP) Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program providing free breakfast and lunch to all students at most schools, funded by Colorado Propositions LL and MM (November 2025).
- Workforce Housing Program District-operated affordable housing program for staff, including 35 Lightner Creek Village apartment units and planned workforce housing at the Three Springs campus, funded by the 2024 Investing in Our Schools bond to help retain teachers and staff.
- School Transportation Services Student bus transportation services using the Stopfinder app for real-time bus tracking, route change notifications, and delay alerts, with bus registration handled through the Transfinder platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% graduation rate at Durango High School
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Durango School District 9-R
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Durango School District 9-R technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
AI capability3 records
Feature4 records
Durango School District 9-R partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- La Plata Youth Services - Community in Schools Partnership ProgramcoreTherapeutic program partnership providing multidisciplinary support for students in The Hub therapeutic program. Includes case management and wraparound services for youth with behavioral challenges.
- La Plata County Department of Human ServicescorePartnership for core services team and wraparound services through Collaborative Management Program Individualized Services and Support Team (ISST) and COACT High-Fidelity Wraparound.
- Child Wellness Center of the SouthwestcoreMedical case management and acute care partnership supporting students' physical and mental health needs within The Hub therapeutic program.
- Denver Children's HospitalcorePartnership for multidisciplinary behavioral health and psychiatric assessment services for students in the therapeutic program.
- San Juan BOCESminorCase management support partnership for students requiring additional educational and social services coordination.
- Boys and Girls Club of La Plata CountycorePartnership offering The Club@Durango Schools after-school programs providing childcare and enrichment activities for students.
- Local Business CommunitycoreDurango's business community partners with CTE programs at Impact Career Innovation Center, providing industry professionals, internships, apprenticeships, and career-connected learning experiences.
- Riverview Elementary School CommunitycoreSOIL Outdoor Learning Lab is based at Riverview Elementary School, serving as learning environment for all district students with community garden and educational facilities.
- Top 10 La Plata County EmployerscoreStrategic goal to establish deep partnerships with top 10 local employers as certified-level partners providing career-connected learning experiences and mentorship for students.
- Global EmployersminorStrategic goal to establish three global employers as certified-level partners to provide diverse career exposure and international learning opportunities.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Durango School District 9-R competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mesa County Valley School District 51: Western Colorado public school district of similar size (~20,000 students). Operates comparable K-12 portfolio, CTE pathways, and community-funded capital programs; serves as a natural scale and curriculum comparison for DSD.
- Poudre School District: Northern Colorado public school district with comparable graduation outcomes, comprehensive CTE programming, and similar portfolio of elementary, middle, and high schools. Closely matched on academic-performance benchmarking.
- Academy School District 20: Colorado Springs-area public district of similar scale with strong academic outcomes, robust CTE and signature programs, and a comparable portfolio of specialized facilities and innovative programming.
- Boulder Valley School District: Large Colorado public district operating K-12 schools, charter options, and innovative programming across Boulder County. Comparable on academic outcomes, governance structure, and capital bond program experience.
- Eagle County School District: Rural mountain Colorado public district serving a similar resort-region population. Faces comparable challenges — high cost of living, teacher retention, and need for workforce housing — making it a direct geographic and demographic peer.
- Roaring Fork School District: Rural western Colorado district serving similar mountain-community demographics with comparable bilingual/ELL populations, cost-of-living pressures, and small-district innovation needs.
Broad incumbents
- Cherry Creek School District: Large metro-Denver public district operating a portfolio of specialized signature schools, IB and CTE pathways, and robust facilities program. Larger scale but relevant as a benchmark for ambitious programming and capital execution.
- Jeffco Public Schools: Large Colorado public district operating dozens of schools across the Denver foothills with comprehensive special education, CTE, and signature programs. Useful comparison for scaled special education services and bond-funded capital programs.
Regional players
- Archuleta County School District 50-JT: Neighboring rural Southwest Colorado district (Pagosa Springs area) operating K-12 schools in a similar mountain-community context. Comparable on demographic profile, ELL/Native American student mix, and small-district operational scale.
- Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1: Adjacent rural district serving a comparable Four Corners-region population with significant Native American and ELL demographics. Direct regional peer for funding-formula and demographic benchmarking.
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Durango School District 9-R social profiles
Digital presenceDurango School District 9-R compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance12 records
Durango School District 9-R financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Durango School District 9-R leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
Durango School District 9-R subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries17 records
Durango School District 9-R funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Durango School District 9-R M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Durango School District 9-R
What does Durango School District 9-R do?
Durango School District 9-R is a public K-12 education system serving approximately 4,500 students across seven elementary schools, two middle schools, two high schools, one charter school, and alternative programs in La Plata County, Colorado. The district provides comprehensive educational services including core academics, Career and Technical Education (CTE) through 14 pathways, special education, therapeutic support, outdoor education, free meals, 1:1 Chromebook access for grades 6-12, and workforce housing for staff. Core offerings are structured around the Portrait of a Graduate framework and aligned with Colorado Academic Standards.
Is Durango School District 9-R a public or private company?
Durango School District 9-R is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Durango School District 9-R founded?
Durango School District 9-R was founded in 1881. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Durango School District 9-R based?
Durango School District 9-R is headquartered in Durango, United States, in the North America region.
How does Durango School District 9-R make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Property Tax Revenue is the primary driver. The others are federal Programs Funding, state Funding and bond Proceeds.
Who are Durango School District 9-R's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mesa County Valley School District 51, Poudre School District, Academy School District 20, Boulder Valley School District, Eagle County School District and Roaring Fork School District. Broad incumbents are Cherry Creek School District and Jeffco Public Schools. Regional players are Archuleta County School District 50-JT and Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1.
Does Durango School District 9-R have an API?
No public API is recorded for Durango School District 9-R.
What industry is Durango School District 9-R in?
Durango School District 9-R's product category is Public K-12 Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADABAA, Public School Districts (K–12), with a secondary code of EDAJACAK, Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.