Garfield County Colorado Schools Calendar

Three main school districts divide Garfield County’s Colorado River valley, and two more reach into its edges, so the calendar a family follows depends on which town they live in. Garfield School District Re-2 in Rifle, Silt, and New Castle is the largest by enrollment, with about 4,700 students, followed by Roaring Fork RE-1 in Glenwood Springs and Carbondale, and Garfield 16 in Parachute with roughly 1,200. Together the county’s public schools serve around 10,000 students, and each district’s board adopts its own schedule.

School District Structure in Garfield County

This is Colorado’s Garfield County, not one of the several counties of that name in other states, and public education here is organized by district. State records list five districts that include Garfield County territory: Roaring Fork RE-1, Garfield RE-2, Garfield 16, and small parts of Eagle County RE-50 and De Beque 49JT. The three main ones are headquartered in the county. Each has its own elected board of education that adopts the budget, sets policy, hires a superintendent, and approves the school calendar. Boards typically meet monthly, often in the evening, and post agendas and minutes on their websites. Call the district office for the current meeting schedule.

Roaring Fork RE-1 is a joint district that spans Garfield, Pitkin, and Eagle counties, so it includes schools in Glenwood Springs and Carbondale in Garfield County, along with Basalt just across the line in Eagle County. Garfield RE-2 serves Rifle, Silt, and New Castle, with schools including Rifle High School, Rifle Middle School, Coal Ridge High School, and Riverside School. Garfield 16 is based on Stone Quarry Road in Parachute and serves Parachute and Battlement Mesa. The state lists Jennifer Baugh as its superintendent, and its schools include Grand Valley High School and Bea Underwood Elementary. Re-2 and Garfield 16 are members of the Colorado River BOCES, a cooperative that provides shared services.

The county mixes resort-adjacent communities in the Roaring Fork Valley with energy and agricultural towns along the Colorado River to the west. Glenwood Springs, the county seat, is a tourism and hot springs town, while Rifle, Silt, and Parachute grew with natural gas development. If you live near a boundary, such as between New Castle and Glenwood Springs, ask the district office to confirm which one serves your address.

Academic Calendar Structure

Garfield County districts generally start in mid-August and finish in late May, with each board setting its own dates in a calendar adopted months ahead. Since third-party calendar sites often disagree, use the board-adopted version on your district’s website. Districts commonly run two semesters, with fall ending around winter break and spring beginning in early January. Elementary schools often report by quarter or trimester, and secondary schools by semester with progress reports in between.

Colorado requires about 160 days or the equivalent in instructional hours, with roughly 1,080 hours for secondary grades and 1,056 for elementary. Districts that use a four-day week meet the standard with longer days, so confirm each district’s current weekly pattern on its adopted calendar. Bell times vary by district and school, so check your school’s page for current start and end times. Bus routes stretching along the Colorado River and up side valleys shape those schedules.

School Holidays and Breaks

A typical Garfield County calendar includes:

• Labor Day: First Monday of September.
• Fall Break: Some districts include a short fall break or conference days. Check yours.
• Thanksgiving Break: Usually the full week or several days around Thanksgiving.
• Winter Break: About two weeks around Christmas and New Year’s.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Third Monday of January.
• Presidents’ Day: Third Monday of February.
• Spring Break: One week, usually in March, though timing can differ among districts.
• Memorial Day: Last Monday of May.

Because the districts set separate calendars, a family living in one town and working in another, or with children in two districts, should compare each. The adopted calendar controls.

How to Find the Official Garfield County School Calendar

There is no countywide calendar, so start with your district’s website. Each posts its board-adopted calendar, often as a downloadable PDF, under sections like “District,” “Parents,” or “Community.” The board adopts next year’s calendar at a public meeting, typically in the winter or spring, and the agenda for that meeting shows proposed changes. Individual schools also post their own events, such as concerts, games, and parent nights.

Families who live across counties, whether for custody, work, or a move, may need to compare calendars. If that is you, the Fremont County schools calendar pages for the three districts along the Arkansas River and the Garfield County schools calendar pages for the districts along the Colorado and Roaring Fork rivers are both listed in the state’s regional directories, but each district sets its own dates. Their start days, weekly schedules, and breaks often do not line up, so confirm each one directly.

Early Release Days, Teacher Workdays, and Professional Development

Teachers report a few days before students in August for work days and training. During the year, calendars include professional development days and teacher work days, and some schools use early release or conference days. These appear on the adopted calendar, and families hear about them through district email, school newsletters, and parent apps. In the Roaring Fork Valley, where many families speak Spanish at home, notices are often available in both English and Spanish, and it is worth asking your school what is offered.

Some training is tied to state requirements. Colorado’s READ Act requires literacy training for K-3 teachers, and educator evaluation and safety training also take time. Specific days are set locally, so check your district’s calendar.

Emergency Closures and Weather Days

Weather varies across the county. Glenwood Springs, Rifle, and Parachute sit in river valleys that are milder than the mountains, but heavy snow can reach the Roaring Fork Valley, Carbondale, and the higher ground south of the Colorado River. A winter storm or crash can close Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon, which affects staff and families commuting between districts. Each district’s superintendent decides on closures, delays, and early releases, usually early in the morning after consulting transportation staff and road reports. Districts may decide differently on the same day, so rely on your own district’s announcement.

Colorado measures instructional time in hours, so makeup is flexible, and districts may use built-in time, extra minutes, or waivers. Check your district’s policy. Closure information goes out through each district’s notification system by text, email, and phone, and is posted on websites and social media. Local outlets such as the Glenwood Springs Post Independent and the Rifle Citizen Telegram carry school news, Grand Junction stations KKCO 11 and KJCT 8 reach the western part of the county, and Denver stations cover major storms. Keep your contact information current with your school.

Graduation and End-of-Year Schedule

High school finals usually fall in the last week or two of the school year, set by each school. Graduation ceremonies take place in May, typically at school gyms, stadiums, or community venues, with dates posted on each school’s calendar. Rifle, Coal Ridge, Glenwood Springs, Roaring Fork, and Grand Valley high schools each hold their own ceremony. Elementary and middle schools often hold promotion or awards events. Report cards are issued each grading period, and districts provide parent portals for grades and attendance, with help from the school office.

Back-to-School and Registration Information

Register in the district that serves your address, at the school or district office or through the district’s online system, which generally opens in the spring and continues through summer. Colorado allows choice enrollment, so families may apply to a different district if space allows, and charter schools have separate applications. Typical documents include:

• Proof of Garfield County residency, such as a lease, mortgage statement, or utility bill
• The child’s birth certificate or other proof of age
• Immunization records or a valid exemption under Colorado law
• Records from a prior school, if transferring

Supply lists are usually posted on school websites over the summer, and many schools hold open houses or orientation days before the first day.

Special Programs and Their Calendar Implications

The county’s districts offer a range of programs, and some follow different schedules. Charter schools and alternative high schools may have their own bell times or days. Preschool and early childhood programs often run different days and hours than kindergarten through fifth grade. High school students can take concurrent enrollment courses through Colorado Mountain College, which has campuses in Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, and Rifle and follows its own academic calendar, especially around semester starts and spring break. Online and alternative options may have rolling starts or different breaks. Contact the program directly to confirm details.

Athletics and Extracurricular Calendar Context

High school athletics follow the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA), which sets seasons, eligibility, and postseason schedules. Teams from Rifle, Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, and Parachute travel along I-70 and Highway 82 for games, and winter weather can shift schedules. Fall practices begin in August, winter sports run through the holidays, and spring sports overlap with finals and graduation. Check each school’s athletics page.

State-Level Calendar Requirements and How Colorado Law Governs Garfield County

The Colorado Department of Education and the State Board of Education set the minimum instructional time, but each local board decides its start and end dates, holidays, and weekly structure. The state’s roughly 160-day or equivalent-hours framework gives boards wide latitude, and districts may seek waivers from some requirements. That local control explains why Roaring Fork, Garfield Re-2, and Garfield 16 publish separate calendars even though their students live in the same county.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does school start in Garfield County, Colorado?
Most districts start in mid-August, but each board sets its own date. Check your district’s adopted calendar.

When does school get out for summer in Garfield County?
The last day usually falls in late May, depending on the district.

How many days are in a school year in Garfield County?
Colorado requires about 160 days or equivalent instructional hours. The count of student days depends on your district’s adopted calendar and weekly schedule.

How do I find out if school is cancelled today in Garfield County?
Watch for your district’s text, email, and phone alerts, check its website and social media, or follow KKCO 11, KJCT 8, the Glenwood Springs Post Independent, or the Rifle Citizen Telegram.

What is the spring break schedule for Garfield County schools?
Spring break is usually one week in March, but dates vary by district. Check your adopted calendar.

How do I enroll my child in Garfield County schools?
Register in the district serving your address, with proof of residency, a birth certificate, and immunization records.

Are there any year-round schools in Garfield County?
Districts follow a traditional August-to-May calendar. Confirm with your district whether any program differs.

Who do I contact about school calendar questions in Garfield County?
Contact your child’s school first, then your district’s administration office. Board agendas show when each calendar is adopted.