Garfield Re-2 School District
News
Garfield Re-2 News
![Student evaluating the design of a pen]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1771621443/garfieldre2net/binp65zr0xedeiygpq2k/Engineering_class.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1771621443/garfieldre2net/binp65zr0xedeiygpq2k/Engineering_class.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1771621443/garfieldre2net/binp65zr0xedeiygpq2k/Engineering_class.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1771621443/garfieldre2net/binp65zr0xedeiygpq2k/Engineering_class.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1771621443/garfieldre2net/binp65zr0xedeiygpq2k/Engineering_class.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1771621443/garfieldre2net/binp65zr0xedeiygpq2k/Engineering_class.jpg","width":2200}])
Garfield Re-2 School District has been awarded a $75,000 grant over three years from the Nathan Yip Foundation to expand and strengthen the Engineering Pathway at Rifle High School, creating new opportunities for students to explore high-demand careers close to home.
Year one of the grant will focus on training and equipment to ensure the program has the tools needed for advanced, real-world engineering learning. The investment will support PLTW training, upgraded materials and equipment, including engineering-capable computers that can run the software required for advanced coursework, along with continued work to align middle school and high school STEM programming.
![Two middle school aged boys looking at a skeleton.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1771353909/garfieldre2net/mayq3oxn6ldjqtbip15c/RMSforensics1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1771353909/garfieldre2net/mayq3oxn6ldjqtbip15c/RMSforensics1.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1771353909/garfieldre2net/mayq3oxn6ldjqtbip15c/RMSforensics1.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1771353909/garfieldre2net/mayq3oxn6ldjqtbip15c/RMSforensics1.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1771353909/garfieldre2net/mayq3oxn6ldjqtbip15c/RMSforensics1.jpg","width":1365}])
When students returned to Rifle Middle School after winter break, they expected to resume band class as usual. Instead, an unexpected staffing change interrupted traditional music instruction. Staff responded with a creative solution: a forensic science and crime scene investigation class, the first of its kind at Rifle Middle School.
Just days before the start of the new semester, school leaders were faced with a challenge familiar across the Western Slope: how to ensure students continue to have meaningful learning opportunities when workforce housing makes it difficult to recruit and retain educators.
![photo of a high school senior boy in a black t-shirt.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1770392913/garfieldre2net/w97n53rrlzmdwtvzguca/yahir_Garcia.jpg","width":200}])
When Coal Ridge High School senior Yahir Garcia walks across the graduation stage this spring, he will be carrying more than a diploma. He will also be carrying a long-held goal, one shaped by family, community, and a desire to make health care more accessible for others. Yahir will be one of 10 students statewide to have the opportunity to walk straight into one of Colorado’s most competitive medical pathway programs.
Garcia has been accepted into the University of Colorado Denver / CU Anschutz Medical Campus BA/BS-MD Program, a highly competitive pathway that allows students to complete their undergraduate degree while holding a conditional seat in medical school.
![Garfield Re-2 Schools Rally to Support Make-A-Wish Kid Violeta During District-Wide Wish Week]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1770333414/garfieldre2net/l4ca9ksny5frrifyskto/Make-A-Wish-Emblem.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1770333414/garfieldre2net/l4ca9ksny5frrifyskto/Make-A-Wish-Emblem.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1770333414/garfieldre2net/l4ca9ksny5frrifyskto/Make-A-Wish-Emblem.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1770333414/garfieldre2net/l4ca9ksny5frrifyskto/Make-A-Wish-Emblem.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1770333414/garfieldre2net/l4ca9ksny5frrifyskto/Make-A-Wish-Emblem.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1770333414/garfieldre2net/l4ca9ksny5frrifyskto/Make-A-Wish-Emblem.png","width":2200}])
For children facing critical illness, a wish can be more than a moment of happiness, it can be a turning point. For Violeta, a four-year-old cancer survivor from western Garfield County, that turning point is a dream of meeting her favorite K-Pop group, TWICE.
Garfield Re-2 School District will honor that hope during Make-A-Wish Week. In Garfield Re-2, February 9–12 Rifle and Coal Ridge High Schools will hold a variety of assemblies, spirit days, and community events designed to raise awareness and support for wish kids like Violeta.
![six coal ridge high school graduates]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1768497208/garfieldre2net/ifccqinzovhst7vdjkbz/CRHS_AP_grads.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1768497208/garfieldre2net/ifccqinzovhst7vdjkbz/CRHS_AP_grads.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1768497208/garfieldre2net/ifccqinzovhst7vdjkbz/CRHS_AP_grads.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1768497208/garfieldre2net/ifccqinzovhst7vdjkbz/CRHS_AP_grads.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1768497208/garfieldre2net/ifccqinzovhst7vdjkbz/CRHS_AP_grads.jpg","width":1439}])
Garfield Re-2’s four-year graduation rate climbed to 87.7%, an increase of more than two percentage points from last year. The district’s seven-year completion rate reached 89.0%, reflecting strong systems that support students who may need additional time or flexibility to complete high school.
These rates place Garfield Re-2 ahead of its neighboring districts and above the current statewide average.
![kindergarten children playing]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1768495918/garfieldre2net/nynzzqawfrdjgqam3y2o/_DSC1247.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1768495918/garfieldre2net/nynzzqawfrdjgqam3y2o/_DSC1247.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1768495918/garfieldre2net/nynzzqawfrdjgqam3y2o/_DSC1247.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1768495918/garfieldre2net/nynzzqawfrdjgqam3y2o/_DSC1247.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1768495918/garfieldre2net/nynzzqawfrdjgqam3y2o/_DSC1247.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1768495918/garfieldre2net/nynzzqawfrdjgqam3y2o/_DSC1247.jpg","width":2048}])
The Colorado Department of Education recently released data from the state’s October 2025 student count, an annual snapshot that helps school districts understand enrollment trends and plan for the future. Statewide, Colorado experienced a 1.2% decrease in pre-K–12 student enrollment compared to fall 2024.
This year’s data shows that Garfield Re-2 experienced a small decline in enrollment, reflecting a trend seen across many rural and mountain communities. District enrollment decreased from 4,695 students in fall 2024 to 4,642 students in fall 2025, a net loss of 53 students. After a slight increase the previous year, current enrollment remains comparable to levels seen in the 2023 school year.
Superintendent News
![Photo of Kirk Banghart]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1744651002/garfieldre2net/aucabjd2ykf6b1ra7jit/kirkbanghart.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1744651002/garfieldre2net/aucabjd2ykf6b1ra7jit/kirkbanghart.jpg","width":500}])
Across Colorado, school districts are preparing for financial pressure in the 2026–27 budget cycle. Revenue forecasts are tightening. Funding formulas are under review. Enrollment trends continue to shift.
We are watching those developments closely. But in Garfield Re-2, we are not waiting for uncertainty to dictate our direction.
Momentum is a choice, and we are choosing to move forward.
January offers an important opportunity to reflect on where we are, where we are headed, and the leadership that helps guide our work every day. It is also National School Board Appreciation Month, and I want to begin the new year by recognizing and thanking the dedicated individuals who serve our community through their service on the Garfield Re-2 Board of Education.
Our Board, President Fathom Jensen, Vice President Chance Jenkins, Secretary Cassie Haskell, Treasurer Megan Heil, and Board Member Steve Beaulieu, provides steady leadership and thoughtful guidance for Garfield Re-2. They ensure that long-term decisions remain centered on students while upholding our shared vision. That clarity of governance creates stability, trust, and focus across our system. Most importantly, it allows the important work of teaching and learning to thrive.
As we turn the corner into a new year, there is a continued and steady sense of momentum across Garfield Re-2. It grows from the combination of our long-standing traditions, the stability of our shared values, and the fresh perspectives that keep us moving forward. The upcoming winter break offers all of us a welcome moment to pause, reflect, and return renewed for the work ahead.
In school districts, progress rarely happens all at once. It builds slowly at first, then more noticeably as students grow, staff work together, and a community leans into shared values and expectations. Over the past week, the signs of our growing momentum were illustrated by our students and staff nearly everywhere I looked.
This week, I shared that Garfield Re-2 has asked the Roaring Fork School District, Two Rivers Community School’s authorizing district, to follow Colorado law and discontinue transporting students who live within the Garfield Re-2 School District to their campus.
I understand how this situation impacts families. When you’ve relied on a bus route to get your child safely to and from school, any change can be inconvenient and concerning. Families choose schools for deeply personal reasons, and I respect those choices.
In education, it's easy to get caught up in what we can’t do. There’s never enough time, and never enough resources. In Garfield Re-2, we focus on what we can do every day by creating opportunities for our students and families, and finding efficiencies that keep our district strong and moving forward. That’s what momentum looks like.
One of the best examples of that momentum is the expansion of our preschool program. Thanks to state partnerships, local collaboration, and the dedication of our early childhood teams, Garfield Re-2 now serves over 300 of our youngest learners—more than ever before. Every classroom we open gives families in western Garfield County greater access to high-quality, early learning right here at home.
Board Update
![Headshot of Chance Jenkins, Garfield Re-2 school board member]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1709925517/garfieldre2net/xhwk6i1xmzber78pxhts/Chance.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1709925517/garfieldre2net/xhwk6i1xmzber78pxhts/Chance.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1709925517/garfieldre2net/xhwk6i1xmzber78pxhts/Chance.jpg","width":667}])
On Wednesday, February 11th, the board had the privilege to meet at Rifle High School. During the "Shine the Light" portion of the meeting, Principal Johnston shared with us some victories and ongoing challenges. Test scores continue to improve in certain areas. These should always be met with celebration. My focus has always been and will continue to be High Student Achievement for EVERY student. That's why we don't just celebrate our victories; we study the areas where we fall short. Make no mistake, this is a very important step in the process of getting better. We study, plan, and implement. Rifle High School continues to do this at a pace that I am extremely proud of.
![Headshot of School board member, Cassie Heskell]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1719586433/garfieldre2net/bncnybk5znne3gvnj8ik/Cassie.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1719586433/garfieldre2net/bncnybk5znne3gvnj8ik/Cassie.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1719586433/garfieldre2net/bncnybk5znne3gvnj8ik/Cassie.jpg","width":667}])
![image of a house with a bag of money next to it]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1768842966/garfieldre2net/ezouwq3ixa8aj7w1svdl/house.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1768842966/garfieldre2net/ezouwq3ixa8aj7w1svdl/house.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1768842966/garfieldre2net/ezouwq3ixa8aj7w1svdl/house.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1768842966/garfieldre2net/ezouwq3ixa8aj7w1svdl/house.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1768842966/garfieldre2net/ezouwq3ixa8aj7w1svdl/house.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1768842966/garfieldre2net/ezouwq3ixa8aj7w1svdl/house.jpg","width":2200}])
RIFLE, CO — Garfield Re-2 School District Superintendent Kirk Banghart shared a summary of results from the district’s recent Workforce Housing Survey with the Board of Education during its January 14, 2026, regular meeting. The information was presented as part of ongoing discussions focused on staff recruitment, retention, and long-term workforce stability.
The anonymous survey was administered by Colorado housing consultant Kwame Spearman and received responses from 451 employees, representing approximately 47 percent of the district’s workforce. District leaders noted that this level of participation provides a strong snapshot of staff experiences across job roles, schools, and departments.
![Photo of a school board member]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1768841274/garfieldre2net/aetrvs5klflgoy1jezp5/steve_b.webp","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1768841274/garfieldre2net/aetrvs5klflgoy1jezp5/steve_b.webp","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1768841274/garfieldre2net/aetrvs5klflgoy1jezp5/steve_b.webp","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1768841274/garfieldre2net/aetrvs5klflgoy1jezp5/steve_b.webp","width":864}])
This week, the Board of Education met at Rifle Middle School to recognize the good work happening there and across our district. Principal Rob Dean and his team shared highlights from the past year, including steady academic progress, a positive school culture, and strong connections with families and the community. Rifle Middle School earned a “green” School Performance Framework rating this year, reflecting improved student achievement, fewer discipline issues, and a continued focus on helping students grow both academically and socially. It was encouraging to see the results of that hard work.
![Headshot of School Board member]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1758911350/garfieldre2net/hcaru9iwqk4zwplmt0b7/MeganHeil1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1758911350/garfieldre2net/hcaru9iwqk4zwplmt0b7/MeganHeil1.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1758911350/garfieldre2net/hcaru9iwqk4zwplmt0b7/MeganHeil1.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1758911350/garfieldre2net/hcaru9iwqk4zwplmt0b7/MeganHeil1.jpg","width":896}])
Thank you to the Highland Elementary community for welcoming us into your school for our December Board meeting. We were grateful for the opportunity to see the thoughtful, student-centered work happening throughout the building. The “Shine the Light” presentations continue to be a highlight of each meeting—offering the Board, and our families, a real look at how every school is growing, what challenges they’re tackling, and how they’re supporting students day by day.
Our board convened on Wednesday evening at Graham Mesa Elementary for an engaging session centered on progress and future opportunities. We had the opportunity to learn about the notable improvements and accomplishments at the school thus far this year, including enhanced student engagement initiatives and innovative instructional approaches. The dedication of our staff is evident, and we are eager to see what lies ahead for the educators and students at this exemplary building.