Chalkboard with Durango High School 2025-2026 back to school written on it

DHS back-to-school information 2025-26

Back-to-school and summer contact information for Durango High School (DHS) can be found here.

DHS Back to School and Summer Information Please Read
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Durango High School Home

Our goal is to be the best public high school in Colorado.
Impact Career Innovation Center

About Us

Durango High School (DHS) welcomes students in 9th-12th grades. It's located in the heart of Durango, Colorado, along the Animas River, and serves approximately 1,350 students. Durango High School provides a rigorous education to prepare students for their future, be it a 4-year college, a 2-year institution, industry, the military, directly into the workforce, or whatever path they choose.
student in cap and gown
Where we’re located
Durango School District map
six members of school leadership team

Mission

Our mission at Durango High School is to be the best public high school in the State of Colorado. We achieve excellence through positive relationships and high expectations for all of our students to excel in the classroom and in extracurricular activities. We provide an atmosphere where students can thrive, can find their niche,  and excel at their chosen career path.
 

News & Announcements

Graphic showing 9-R to DSD name change and happy graduate getting diploma

Why we’re saying goodbye to ‘9-R’ – and honoring where we came from

What does “9-R” mean, anyway? If you’ve ever asked that question, you’re not alone. The term has been a part of our district’s name since the 1950s, but few people today know what it stands for. The “9” was our assigned number among districts across Colorado, and the “R” stands for “Reorganized.”
Two smiling high school students behind the counter in a coffee shop

Community gathers to celebrate 10 years of Common Grounds Café

For 10 years, Common Grounds Café inside the Durango Public Library has been more than just a place to grab coffee. On April 15, the community gathered to celebrate a decade of connection, inclusion, and purpose at the café's 10th anniversary celebration.
A group of friends laughs together

Cook Center Mental Health Series: May 2025 classes + watch recordings on your own schedule

Need help in supporting your child's well-being? We are offering FREE live webinars on Monday-Thursday evenings throughout the school year, and you can always watch previously recorded classes on your own time by visiting the Cook Center's full content library. Live webinar topics in May include: how to motivate your child, mindfulness for improved mental health, suicide prevention, protecting your child on social media, emotional regulation, video game addiction, stopping bullying cycles, and more.
New weight room at Durango High School

Durango High School unveils remodeled weight room

Durango High School celebrated the grand reopening of its newly remodeled weight room on June 12 with a ribbon cutting and donor appreciation event. The project was made possible thanks to generous contributions from local families, businesses, and a dedicated team of volunteers.
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principal Jon Hoerl

Principal's Message

Durango High School  provides rigorous classroom study, extracurricular activities, sports, Career & Technical Education, Honors classes, Advanced Placement, concurrent enrollment  in college courses, and four-year, individualized academic advisors to help prepare our students for their future career.  – Dr. Jon Hoerl, Principal, CASE 2024 Colorado High School Principal of the Year.

Events

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mountain with autumn leaves on trees

Quality of Life

Durango is a beautiful place to live and work. It is located at 6,512 feet elevation in Southwest Colorado near the Four Corners region. Families who live here enjoy a historic steam train, ski resort, rivers, vibrant downtown, bike trails, sky-high “fourteener” mountains, and four distinct seasons with an average of 266 sunny days per year. We welcome new families and new staff members, and we offer excellent benefits and competitive salaries. 
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Accessibility Statement

It is the goal of Durango School District that the information on this website be accessible to individuals with visual, hearing, or cognitive disabilities. Good faith efforts are being made to ensure that our website complies with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0.
 
Most pages on our site are available in HTML format, which can be read by screen readers. Some documents are in Adobe PDF format, requiring Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded for free from the Adobe website. Additionally, some documents are in Google Docs and Google Forms. Most modern browsers and screen readers can access Google-based documents. More information about Google web products accessibility can be found on the Google Accessibility website.
 
To ensure accessibility for everyone in our community, including those with disabilities, Durango School District is taking the following steps:
 
* We are actively identifying and addressing accessibility barriers across our websites and digital platforms.
* We request accessibility documentation (such as VPATs – Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates) from vendors whose digital tools or content are used on our websites.
* We work with vendors and service providers to ensure they are taking steps toward full compliance with WCAG and Section 504 requirements.
* We are committed to ongoing staff training and continuous website improvement.
* We regularly review our digital content to align with the Colorado Digital Accessibility Act (C.R.S. 24-34-104) and the latest applicable standards.
 
If you are unable to access any page or document on our site, please contact us at [email protected]. Include the webpage or document URL, your name, email address, and phone number. We will provide the information in an alternative format and work to resolve the issue. Alternatively, you may call the district's main information line at (970) 247-5411 and ask to speak with someone in the Communications Department. Include the location of the webpage/document, your name, email address, and phone number so we can provide the information in another format, and address the issue.

Learn more about the district's accessibility compliance plan and progress reports.