The Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative aims to change this equation. With a Colorado RISE grant providing support, this new nonprofit is working together with five school districts (Ignacio, Bayfield, Silverton, Archuleta, and Durango 9-R) and two higher education partners (Fort Lewis College and Pueblo Community College) to share a broader pool of resources, build partnerships with local industry leaders, and design easily accessible, interesting ways for rural students to engage in relevant career and college pathways.
The strength and promise of these communities banding together is significant. Nearly half (46%) of the 9,000 K-12 students in the region live in families experiencing poverty. As well, Fort Lewis College is the most diverse public liberal arts college in the nation, with its student body comprised of 53% students of color and over 40% Native American students (the largest percentage of Native American