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The Colorado Department of Education recently released data from the state’s October 2025 student count, an annual snapshot that helps school districts understand enrollment trends and plan for the future. Statewide, Colorado experienced a 1.2% decrease in pre-K–12 student enrollment compared to fall 2024.

This year’s data shows that Garfield Re-2 experienced a small decline in enrollment, reflecting a trend seen across many rural and mountain communities. District enrollment decreased from 4,695 students in fall 2024 to 4,642 students in fall 2025, a net loss of 53 students. After a slight increase the previous year, current enrollment remains comparable to levels seen in the 2023 school year.

On a busy afternoon at Highland Elementary School, the kindergarten students in Mrs. Dalton’s afternoon class rush to the door. Suddenly, the room is in motion, and Liliana Ruiz is surrounded. She stands at the center of a joyful cluster of smiling five-year-olds - arms hugging, voices calling her name, unable to move as she laughs and smiles, wrapped in a swirl of kindergarten energy.

Liliana, a senior at Rifle High School, is one of the first student mentors in Highland’s growing mentor program. While she helps wherever she is needed, her heart and much of her time live in the kindergarten classroom. Three days a week, she steps into the role of trusted helper, translator, role model, and steady presence for some of Highland’s youngest learners.

All State Honors & a Prestigious Scholarship for Rising Vocal Leaders

Garfield Re-2’s choral programs continue to shine across the Western Slope, with students from both Rifle High School and Coal Ridge High School earning top statewide honors. Whether through acceptance into the elite All State Choir or winning a scholarship awarded to only one senior in the state, these students demonstrate what talent, discipline, and heart look like in action.

All-State auditions are open to high school juniors and seniors. Students can achieve a total score of 100 points as part of their All-State audition. Students must perform a musical solo, typically a classical or folk song. Jazz, pop, and musical theater songs are not permitted. Judges are looking for tone quality, singing in tune, accuracy of the notes and rhythms, diction, and musicality — the vocal dynamics, sensitivity to text, and articulation to convey the appropriate meaning. 

Three Rifle High School students spent this election season seeing democracy up close as student election judges for Garfield County. For each of them, the experience offered a rare look behind the curtain at how local elections truly function.

Jaslyn Valencia, Alejandro Sanchez, and Kincaid Perdue completed two hours of security training and four hours of election training. According to Garfield County Clerk and Recorder Jackie Harmon, this is the same requirement for all election judges.