Las Animas County Colorado Schools Calendar

Public education in Las Animas County is run by six separate school districts that share the same mountains, plains, and winter weather but set their own calendars. Together they serve roughly 1,500 to 1,800 students across a county that stretches from the Spanish Peaks to the Kansas-bound plains. Trinidad School District No. 1 is by far the largest, with about 760 students. The rest are small, rural districts where one school may serve an entire community.

School District Structure in Las Animas County

Colorado organizes public education by school district, not by county, so no single “Las Animas County School District” exists. Each district is governed by an elected board of education that hires a superintendent and adopts its own calendar. Six districts operate here:

• Trinidad School District No. 1 serves the city of Trinidad and the surrounding area through Fisher’s Peak Elementary School, Trinidad Middle School, and Trinidad High School, home of the Miners. Its offices are at 612 Park Street in Trinidad, and its website is tsd1.org.
• Aguilar Reorganized School District No. 6 (Aguilar RE-6) serves the town of Aguilar and the northern part of the county along the I-25 corridor.
• Primero Reorganized School District No. 2 (Primero RE-2) is based in the Weston area in the western part of the county.
• Hoehne Reorganized School District No. 3 serves the Model and Hoehne communities in the northeast.
• Branson Reorganized School District No. 82 serves the Branson area in the southeast, near the New Mexico border.
• Kim Reorganized School District No. 88 serves the Kim area on the eastern plains.

Each board meets on its own monthly schedule, and meetings are open to the public. Agendas are usually posted on each district’s website, and the Trinidad board commonly holds its regular meeting once a month at the district office. Because the districts are independent, a family in Trinidad and a family in Kim can see different start dates, different break weeks, and even a different number of school days per week. Many of Colorado’s smaller rural districts run four-day school weeks to save on transportation costs and to make long bus routes more manageable, and some districts in this county have used that model. Check each district’s current schedule rather than assuming the five-day pattern.

Las Animas County is rural, and the distances are real. Bus routes in the smaller districts can run long, and that shapes calendar choices in ways that a compact suburban district never has to consider.

Academic Calendar Structure

Most Las Animas County districts open the school year in mid-August. Trinidad School District No. 1 has typically scheduled a teacher workday in the second week of August, with students starting right after. The year usually ends in late May. Exact first and last days change every year, and each board adopts them separately.

Trinidad and most of the county’s districts use a two-semester structure, with the fall semester running from August to mid-December and the spring semester running from early January to May. Some schools divide each semester into quarters for report cards. The grading period structure can differ by school, so check the handbook for your child’s building.

Colorado law requires districts to provide at least 160 days of instruction, or the equivalent in hours: 1,080 hours for secondary students, 990 for elementary students, and 450 for kindergarten. Districts on four-day weeks meet the requirement with longer days. Five-day districts like Trinidad generally build a calendar of about 165 to 175 student days, which gives them a cushion above the minimum for weather closures.

School day start and end times vary by district and building. In Trinidad, elementary, middle, and high school bell schedules differ slightly, and the smaller districts often run a single schedule for the whole campus. Four-day districts typically start earlier and end later than five-day districts. The current times are posted on each district’s website and in student handbooks.

School Holidays and Breaks

Las Animas County districts generally follow a familiar pattern of breaks, though exact dates differ by district and year:

• Labor Day: The first Monday of September is a day off in most districts.
• Fall Break: Several Colorado districts schedule a fall break or a long weekend in October, and some Las Animas County districts build in teacher planning days around then. Trinidad’s recent calendars have included planning days in late September and early October.
• Thanksgiving Break: Usually the full week of Thanksgiving or the last three days of that week.
• Winter Break: Typically about two weeks, spanning the end of December and the first days of January.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Observed on the third Monday of January. Trinidad has often paired it with a planning day on the nearby Friday.
• Presidents’ Day: Observed in February by most districts.
• Spring Break: Normally one week in March, often in the second half of the month.
• Memorial Day: The last Monday of May, usually after students have been dismissed or on the final week of school.

Exact dates shift each year, and the official calendar from your district is the only reliable source. Four-day-week districts often schedule extra Friday or Monday breaks that five-day districts do not have, so a calendar from one district is not a guide to another.

How to Find the Official Las Animas County School Calendar

Start with the website for your child’s district. Trinidad School District No. 1 posts its calendar at tsd1.org, and the smaller districts maintain their own sites or post notices through their schools. Colorado boards generally adopt the calendar for the following school year in the spring, often between February and May, so a new calendar is usually available well before summer. Look in sections labeled “District,” “Parents,” “Community,” or “Calendar.” Many districts also post a downloadable PDF that you can print or save to your phone.

Individual schools often keep a separate activities calendar for concerts, parent conferences, picture days, and sports. These supplement the board-adopted calendar and sometimes change during the year, so check both.

Families who move between parts of Colorado, or who are comparing regions, will notice that calendar structures are not uniform even within one state. A parent reading the Las Animas County schools calendar from Trinidad, with its small rural districts and mix of weekly schedules, will find a very different setup than a parent reading the Larimer County schools calendar in northern Colorado, where large districts like Poudre School District and Thompson School District serve tens of thousands of students. The principle is the same in both places: the local board adopts the calendar, and the district website is the source of record.

Early Release Days, Teacher Workdays, and Professional Development

Students do not attend every weekday on the calendar. Trinidad’s calendar has included teacher planning days across the year, some of them optional for students’ families in ways the district calls “available to opt,” and professional learning days where students are not in school. These typically fall in August, September, October, November, January, and March. Teachers also report a few days before students arrive in August.

Some of these days are required district-wide professional development, and some are flexible planning days. Smaller districts often hold their training on days that coincide with Friday or Monday breaks. Colorado does not mandate a specific number of statewide training days, but districts must meet their instructional-day requirements and offer professional development as part of the contract year.

Early release days are less common in this county than in larger districts, but they happen. Districts announce them on the calendar, through email and text notifications, on school websites, and on social media pages. If your child rides a bus, confirm with the school how an early release affects pickup, since rural routes take longer.

Emergency Closures and Weather Days

Las Animas County has real winter. Heavy snow, wind, and ice can close roads in the foothills and across the eastern plains. Raton Pass on I-25, just south of Trinidad, is notorious for closures, and storms there can strand travelers and delay staff who commute from New Mexico.

Each district’s superintendent decides on closures, delays, or early dismissals, typically in the early morning after checking road conditions and consulting neighboring districts and county road crews. Because the county is large, one district may close while another stays open, so confirm with your own district.

Districts typically communicate closures through automated phone, text, and email systems, plus their websites and social media pages. Local and regional outlets also carry announcements, including KCRT radio in Trinidad, the Trinidad Chronicle-News, and Colorado Springs and Pueblo television stations such as KRDO and KOAA, whose coverage reaches southern Colorado. Make sure the school has your current phone number and email so you receive the district’s own alerts first.

For missed days, districts use built-in buffer days in the calendar, extend the final weeks of the year, or lengthen days to make up instructional time. Colorado districts can also request a waiver from the Colorado Department of Education in some circumstances. Five-day districts such as Trinidad have an easier time absorbing a few snow days than four-day districts, which use the fifth weekday as a possible makeup day.

Graduation and End-of-Year Schedule

Final exams for middle and high school students usually come in the last week or two of the semester, in mid-December and again in May. Elementary students typically take end-of-year assessments rather than formal final exams.

Graduation ceremonies in the county happen in May, usually on a weekend, and in the smaller districts they are major community events. Trinidad High School holds its ceremony locally, and the smaller districts hold theirs at their own school gyms or auditoriums, with graduating classes sometimes numbering fewer than ten students. Elementary and middle schools often hold promotion or awards ceremonies in the final week.

Report cards go home at the end of each grading period, and many districts provide parent access to grades through an online student information portal. Ask your child’s school office for login instructions at the start of the year.

Back-to-School and Registration Information

Enrollment and re-enrollment generally open in the spring or early summer for the next school year, though new students can register throughout the year. For Trinidad, start with the district office at 612 Park Street or the registration information on tsd1.org. The smaller districts usually handle registration through the school office directly.

Districts generally require:

• Proof of residency, such as a lease, utility bill, or mortgage statement
• The child’s birth certificate or other proof of age
• Immunization records or a state-approved exemption form
• Records or transcripts from the previous school, if transferring

Colorado also has open enrollment, so families may be able to enroll in a district outside their home district if space is available, though transportation is typically the family’s responsibility. Because the county is geographically large, that can be a significant factor.

School supply lists are usually posted on district or school websites and social media pages in late July or early August. Many schools hold open houses or meet-the-teacher events in the week before school starts, and these appear on the school activity calendar.

Special Programs and Their Calendar Implications

Alternative programs in the county may follow slightly different schedules. High school students in Trinidad and elsewhere in the county can take college courses through Trinidad State College, which operates on its own academic calendar. Dual-enrollment students should compare the college calendar with their high school’s, since the college may start later in August or end earlier in May and observe different breaks.

Preschool is offered in several districts, and Colorado’s Universal Preschool program funds hours for four-year-olds. Preschool calendars sometimes differ from the K-12 schedule, with different start dates and fewer days per week. Ask your district or preschool provider for a separate calendar.

Branson Reorganized School District No. 82 is known for offering online courses, and online students may follow a different pacing schedule than students in the physical school. The same is true of any virtual option offered through other districts or through the Southern Colorado Board of Cooperative Educational Services (SCBOCES), which supports small districts across the region. Ask your district whether virtual students must follow the traditional calendar for attendance and state testing.

Athletics and Extracurricular Calendar Context

High school athletics and activities in Las Animas County are governed by the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA), which sets season dates, classifications, and eligibility rules. These schedules are separate from the academic calendar but linked to it. Fall sports such as football, volleyball, and cross country begin practice in August, around the first week of school. Winter sports run through the holiday break, and spring sports often compete over spring break weekends.

Trinidad High School competes in football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, track, baseball, soccer, and golf. Smaller county schools often play eight-man football or participate in cooperative programs. Travel distances are long in southern Colorado, so game days may include early dismissals for athletes, and playoff schedules can overlap with exam periods.

State-Level Calendar Requirements and How Colorado Law Governs Las Animas County

The Colorado Department of Education and the State Board of Education set the framework, but Colorado is a local-control state, and districts have wide latitude. The state requires at least 160 days of instruction or a minimum number of instructional hours, and it expects districts to publish their calendars and report their schedules to the state.

Within that framework, each Las Animas County board decides when school starts, where breaks fall, and whether to use a four-day or five-day week. The state does not dictate a statewide start date, which is why Trinidad’s calendar may differ from Aguilar’s or Kim’s. Districts must still provide required instruction, administer state assessments within the testing windows, and comply with attendance and safety laws. For specific questions about waivers, hours, or the four-day week, the Colorado Department of Education can be reached through its website.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does school start in Las Animas County, Colorado?
Most districts start in mid-August. Trinidad School District No. 1 typically holds a teacher workday in the second week of August and welcomes students right after. Each district adopts its own date, so check your district’s calendar.

When does school get out for summer in Las Animas County?
The last day is usually in late May. Trinidad generally finishes in the second half of May, and four-day districts may end slightly earlier or later depending on how they count instructional hours.

How many days are in a school year in Las Animas County?
Colorado requires at least 160 days or the equivalent in instructional hours. Five-day districts like Trinidad typically schedule more days than the minimum to allow for weather closures, while four-day districts meet the requirement with longer days.

How do I find out if school is cancelled today in Las Animas County?
Check your district’s automated alert system, website, and social media first. KCRT radio, the Trinidad Chronicle-News, and Colorado Springs and Pueblo stations such as KRDO and KOAA also carry closure announcements. Because each district decides independently, confirm with your own district.

What is the spring break schedule for Las Animas County schools?
Spring break is usually one week in March, though the exact week varies by district. Some districts coordinate with neighbors, but there is no countywide rule.

How do I enroll my child in Las Animas County schools?
Contact the district where you live. In Trinidad, start with the district office at 612 Park Street or tsd1.org. Bring proof of residency, a birth certificate, and immunization records. Smaller districts typically register students through the school office.

Are there any year-round schools in Las Animas County?
No Las Animas County district is known to run a year-round, balanced calendar. Districts follow a traditional August-to-May schedule, with some offering summer school programs. Trinidad, for example, has offered summer school for grades K-8.

Who do I contact about school calendar questions in Las Animas County?
Call or email the district office for your child’s school. For Trinidad, that is the Trinidad School District No. 1 office in Trinidad. For the smaller districts, contact the school or superintendent’s office directly. Board meeting agendas are another place to follow calendar discussions before they become final.