Escalante Middle School Home

We are crew,
not passengers.
Folklorico dancers

About Us

Escalante Middle School is for 6th-8th grade students and is located on the south end of Durango, Colorado – just beneath the beautiful Purple Cliffs along the Animas River. Escalante is an EL Learning (formerly Expeditionary Learning) school. This means we believe that learning is active, challenging, meaningful, public, and collaborative. 
girls with kitten in vet science class
Where we’re located
Durango School District map
girl in shop class using joiner tool

Mission

Our mission is to empower students to apply the habits of work, learning, and scholarship to become productive and caring citizens. Reading, writing, mathematics, geography, science, and history are all taught using the team approach. We meet students' individual learning needs by challenging our instruction to address each student's learning style, abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. We use online and computer-based instruction, individualizing reading programs, and student learning groups based on similar academic abilities. 

School & District News

Image of girl dribbling basketball

EMS Lady Eagle Basketball 2026/27 Season Information

Lady Eagles Basketball Information for the start of the 2026/27 Season.
We are excited to announce the upcoming Eagle Girls Basketball season at Escalante Middle School.
Official practices begin on Monday, November 30, from 3:40 PM to 5:45 PM. Athletes will receive the practice schedule during the first session. Prior to the official start, athletes are strongly encouraged to participate in pre-season Open Gym practices. CLICK HERE to see the Open Gym schedule.
Player Expectations & Requirements:
Attendance: Beginning November 30th, daily attendance is mandatory. If an athlete must miss a practice, they are expected to notify Coach Dodd in advance.
Equipment: Athletes should come prepared for every session with athletic attire, basketball or gym shoes, and a refillable water bottle.
We look forward to a great season!
The checklist below will guide you in making sure all forms and fees are taken care of prior to the first day of practice. Student-athletes need to have the following completed by November 20th. No athlete may participate in practice until all three tasks are completed. If you played volleyball already this year, you need to log into your Arbiter Account and make sure Girls Basketball is also clicked for registration.

To be eligible for practice and competition, please complete the following...

Online Athletic Registration Completed @ Register student athlete (https://students.arbitersports.com/programs/escalante-athletic-registration-for-2026-2027)

Current (within the last 365 days) athletic physical, or wellness check, either uploaded to the online registration portal or turned in at Escalante

$75 Athletic fee paid online for each sport (waived for students qualifying for free and reduced lunch) PAY ATHLETIC FEE HERE (https://durangoschools.revtrak.net/durango-high-school/dhs-athletics-and-activities/#/list)

Purple Travel Card with medical consent information (this will be handed out at practice and doesn’t need to be turned in prior to practicing)

Thank you for supporting Eagle Girls Basketball!

Thanks
Coach Dodd
EMS Athletics Cover Letter
Lady Eagle Basketball Schedule 2026

Escalante Middle School
141 Baker Lane
Durango, CO 81303
970-247-9490
https://escalante.durangoschools.org/

Información sobre el equipo de baloncesto femenino «Lady Eagles» para el inicio de la temporada 2026.
Nos complace anunciar la próxima temporada del equipo de baloncesto femenino «Eagle Girls» en el Instituto Escalante.
Los entrenamientos oficiales comienzan el lunes 30 de noviembre, de 15:40 a 17:45. Las jugadoras recibirán el calendario completo de la temporada durante la primera sesión. Antes del inicio oficial, se recomienda encarecidamente a las jugadoras que participen en los entrenamientos de pretemporada del «Open Gym». HAGA CLIC AQUÍ para ver el calendario de los entrenamientos de «Open Gym».
Expectativas y requisitos para las jugadoras:
Asistencia: A partir del 30 de noviembre, la asistencia diaria es obligatoria. Si una jugadora debe faltar a un entrenamiento, debe notificarlo al entrenador Dodd con antelación. Equipamiento: Las jugadoras deben acudir preparadas a cada sesión con ropa deportiva, zapatillas de baloncesto o de gimnasia y una botella de agua reutilizable.
¡Esperamos que sea una gran temporada!
La siguiente lista de comprobación te servirá de guía para asegurarte de que todos los formularios y las cuotas estén en regla antes del primer día de entrenamiento. Los estudiantes-deportistas deben tener lo siguiente completado antes del 20 de noviembre. Ningún deportista podrá participar en los entrenamientos hasta que se hayan completado las tres tareas. Si ya has jugado al voleibol este año, debes iniciar sesión en tu cuenta de Arbiter y asegurarte de que también has marcado la casilla de «Baloncesto femenino» para la inscripción.
Para poder participar en los entrenamientos y las competiciones, por favor, completa lo siguiente...
Inscripción deportiva en línea completada en «Registrar a un estudiante deportista» (https://students.arbitersports.com/programs/escalante-athletic-registration-for-2026-2027)
Examen médico deportivo o de bienestar vigente (realizado en los últimos 365 días), que debe subirse al portal de inscripción en línea o entregarse en Escalante
Cuota deportiva de 75 $ pagada en línea por cada deporte (exenta para las alumnas que cumplan los requisitos para el programa de comidas gratuitas o a precio reducido) PAGAR LA CUOTA DEPORTIVA AQUÍ (https://durangoschools.revtrak.net/durango-high-school/dhs-athletics-and-activities/#/list)
Tarjeta de desplazamiento morada con la información del consentimiento médico (se entregará en el entrenamiento y no es necesario entregarla antes de empezar a entrenar)
¡Gracias por apoyar al equipo de baloncesto femenino Eagle Girls!

Gracias,
Entrenador Dodd
Carta de presentación de EMS Athletics
Calendario del equipo de baloncesto femenino Lady Eagle 2026

Escalante Middle School
141 Baker Lane
Durango, CO 81303
970-247-9490
https://escalante.durangoschools.org/
Traducción realizada con la versión gratuita del traductor DeepL.com
Poster of Afternoon Out

Afternoon Out! at Escalante MS

Join our Fall Afternoon Out! Friday, November 6th.

Afternoon Out! is an after-school celebration open to all currently enrolled students of Escalante. We will have music, games, and snacks set up. The event is from 3:45 to 5:30 PM. (Students who have 2 or more lunch detentions or have In-school Suspension between Oct. 6 and Nov. 6 are NOT allowed at the event).

If you can provide snacks for the event, please drop them off at the front office any time by 3:00 PM Friday, Nov. 6th.

Students are not allowed to wear costumes, face paint, or masks to school, but can change into costumes after school before the event. Normal dress code applies to Afternoon Out!

Students should be picked up by 5:30 PM. Contact the office if you have questions about the event. 970-247-9490
Basketball Image

Eagle Boys Basketball 2026

We are excited to start the Eagle Boys Basketball Season here at Escalante. The first day of practice is on Monday, October 5th from 2:40-5:00pm. We will practice on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 3:35-6:00pm and Friday from 3:35-5:30 pm. Coaches will appreciate prompt pickup after games and practices. Athletes need to bring athletic clothing, gym shoes, and a water bottle to each practice. Practice is required, and it is the expectation that athletes attend all practices. If they cannot come to a particular practice, the student needs to communicate with Coach Bastin or Coach Dodd. Attendance is recorded each day.

More information below...
Dog announcing picture day

School Picture Day is Tuesday, October 27th!

School Picture Day Tuesday, October 27th!

Please ensure your child arrives on time, as photos will be taken in the morning.

Important Photo Details:

ALL students will have their picture taken.
No hats or hoodies are allowed for photos.

Ordering Information:
Parents will receive a QR code directly from Allison Ragsdale Photography with details on how to view and purchase picture packages.

If you have any questions, please contact Allison Ragsdale Photography directly at **970-259-9255**.

Thank you for your help in making Picture Day run smoothly!
Matt Smith, Principal, Escalante Middle School

Principal's Message

Welcome, Eagle students and families! At Escalante Middle School, we focus on building a culture of respect, responsibility, courage, and kindness — where students and staff are committed to quality work and citizenship. We strive to provide our students with hands-on experiences, both inside and outside of the classroom, so that our students can see the connections between what they are learning in the classroom and the real world. 

Matt Smith
Principal

Events

Engineer Mountain

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. 

Accessibility Statement

Durango School District is committed to ensuring our digital platforms are accessible to everyone, aligning with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards and Colorado accessibility laws. If you encounter a barrier or need an alternative format, please contact us at [email protected] or (970) 247-5411.