The West End School District RE-2 is located in Southwestern Colorado and covers approximately 1000 square miles. The present district enrollment is 335 students.
An elementary school consisting of PK-6 is located in Naturita. The junior/senior high school consisting of grades 7-12 is located in Nucla. The administration office is located in Naturita, as is the bus barn, transportation department, and warehouse. Paradox Valley Charter School is located in Paradox, thirty miles southwest of Naturita.
In 2006, the district passed an override mill levy to improve staff compensation.
The professional staff currently includes a superintendent, two principals, 29 professional staff and 25 support staff. Teachers and administrators belong to their respective professional organizations. The West End School District has a dedicated and productive staff that has made quality education their ongoing goal.
The citizens of the West End community are very active in community events and organizations and involvement in the schools. In addition to the core areas, the District provides elementary music and choir at the junior/senior high school level, journalism, technology, and physical education. The secondary curriculum includes classes in the applied arts and career education. Upper level classes in math, science and language arts have prepared students to be successful at major colleges and universities. The District has a high graduation rate with many of our seniors going on to higher education institutions. West End students have the opportunity to gain college credit through cooperative agreements with Mesa State College, Colorado Community College and Colorado On-Line Learning.
The District has completed a ten-year plan which is being revisited on a yearly basis to consider updates or possible changes. The West End Schools are fortunate to have excellent technology available to all students and staff.
The District utilizes services from the Uncompahgre Board of Cooperative Services for special education needs that can not be met locally.
The junior/senior high school students participate in Knowledge Bowl competition, Science Club, River Watch Program, and an Archery Club. The West End has one of the better wrestling programs in the state of Colorado along with football, volleyball, baseball, basketball and co-opted softball and track.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The West End School District is located in the Southwest corner of Colorado with a driving distance of approximately six hours and 30 minutes to Denver; one hour and 45 minutes to Cortez; one hour and fifteen minutes to Telluride and two hours to Montrose and Grand Junction, and one hour to the Gateway Canyon Resort. The nearest McDonald’s is 84 miles away. We are seventy-four miles from Moab, Utah.
The four small communities, which make up the West End School District, are Naturita, Nucla, Paradox and Bedrock. These ranching and farming towns have some interesting facts which add to the richness of its history; the construction of the 17 miles of ditch to establish the water supply to the Nucla community in the 1880’s; the geologic oddity of Paradox; the Ute Indian history along with the historical artifacts and legends; the boom years of the 1950’s and 1960’s mining and milling operations of uranium and vanadium at Uravan; and the historical Bedrock General Store.
Surrounded by the San Juan Mountains to the east, the Lone Cone to the south, the LaSal Mountains to the west, the Uncompahgre Plateau to the north, and lying at the edge of the canyon lands country, the outdoor enthusiast can choose from a variety of year-round activities. Big game hunting, fishing, hiking, backpacking, mountain bike riding, rock climbing, snowmobile riding, and snow skiing can be enjoyed by all.
The small rural town aspect offers a back-to-the-basics environment where gang related problems are at a minimum. While offering a comfortable quality of life at a reasonable low cost of living, this remote community considers itself unique.
Farming, ranching and mining provide the main source of income for the area. The world’s largest fluidized-bed combustion power plant is located along the San Miguel River.
The community is fortunate to have a medical clinic, which offers a physician, three Physician’s assistants, nurse practitioners and a 24-hour holding facility. Air life services are provided by hospitals in Grand Junction, Montrose and Cortez. The communities also have an excellent volunteer ambulance service and fire department.
Housing is available and reasonable in both communities. There are two real-estate offices located in Naturita. Many in our communities travel to Telluride to work in the resorts during the ski season. Telluride offers many fine arts performances throughout the year; perhaps the most famous is the annual Blue Grass Festival in the summer.
