Senior class pictures and more can be found on our Hall of Fame. We recommend to viewing on larger displays

A virtual tour of the old school before demolition.

A collage of seniors who've graduated

The Sierra Grande School District serving the communities of Blanca and Fort Garland and the surrounding area is in south central Colorado, in the San Luis Valley, at the foot of beautiful and majestic Mount Blanca – one of Colorado’s 14,000+ foot peaks. The grandeur of the Sangre de Cristo and San Juan Mountain ranges frame it. This is a dream come true for the outdoor enthusiast. Skiing is available all around you within one hour – Red River and Taos, New Mexico, to the south, Wolf Creek to the west, and Monarch to the north. Hunting and fishing is also available locally as well as within the San Luis Valley.

The Community has long been home to ranchers and farmers who have passed on their legacy to their families throughout the generations. The area is increasingly becoming the home to many retirees who are relocating seeking the beauty, peace and quiet living in a large, mountainous subdivision know as Forbes Park on the legendary Forbes Trinchera Ranch.

The community enjoys a diverse population comprised of the following ethnic groups:

Hispanic - 70% Anglo - 25% Asian - 4% African American - .5% Native American - .5%

The Community also has invested in a beautiful and comprehensive Community Center with many family-based amenities such as a swimming pool, gym, weight training room, community dining, cafeteria, jogging trail, etc.

All of Sierra Grande’s 275 students attend school in the same building on U.S. Highway 160. One wing houses grades K-5 and the other wing grades 6-12, with the gym, library, and district offices in between. Students attend school Monday through Thursday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. That leaves Fridays for professional development, other schoolwide collaboration, co-curricular and athletic activities. The two school principals’ duties include overseeing various federal programs and reform projects.

Neither the small size nor the challenging demographics have kept Sierra Grande from an aggressive pursuit of excellence. Sierra Grande hopes to continue providing quality teaching for its students in order to show growth in students’ academic pursuits.

In 2002, Sierra Grande School District received the Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award for the Elementary, Junior High and High Schools. Sierra Grande Junior High received the Colorado Department of Education’s “A 2005 Gain-Maker School for exceptional improvement in student achievement in at least one grade level as measured by CSAP in Writing 2003-2005”. Sierra Grande High School was recognized by Newsweek Magazine as one of the “Top 1000 High Schools in America 2006” ranking 273.

Extracurricular activities are an important part of student life at Sierra Grande. The students have experienced success not only in athletics but also in competitions in extracurricular academic areas such as Academic Decathlon, Spanish Club, FBLA, and furniture making competitions.

Through the combined efforts of the teachers, students, parents and community, the Sierra Grande School District is making great strides in giving students a high-quality education.