Back to School Hub webpage: All the info you need to prepare for fall

Get ready for the upcoming school year: Visit DSD's Back to School Hub

School starts Tuesday, Aug. 25, and our 2026-27 Back to School Hub compiles all the essential information families need to get ready for the new school year. You’ll find details on enrollment, school start dates, supply lists, transportation options, bell schedules, and more.

Visit the Back to School Hub
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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. 
Learn more
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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

Back to School Hub webpage: All the info you need to prepare for fall

Get ready for the upcoming school year: Visit DSD's Back to School Hub

School starts Tuesday, Aug. 25, and our 2026-27 Back to School Hub compiles all the essential information families need to get ready for the new school year. You’ll find details on enrollment, school start dates, supply lists, transportation options, bell schedules, and more.
No phones, no watches. Stay present. Stay connected.

DSD cell phone and smart watch policy

DSD's cell phone policy requires that cell phones and smart watches be put away during the school day or during classes, depending on grade level.
June 2027 calendar with June 1-4 circled and

Snow Days ahead? Keep June 1-4 open, just in case

Before you make your summer plans, please keep June 1-4, 2027, open. The last scheduled day of school is Friday, May 28, 2027. However, the DSD Academic Calendar designates June 1-4 as potential makeup days if winter weather causes multiple school closures.
Man hugs woman

The smallest moments can leave the biggest mark: DSD kicks off a new school year

“The smallest moments can leave the biggest mark.” That was the message Board of Education President Kristin Smith shared with hundreds of Durango School District employees gathered Aug. 19 for Opening Day – and it became a fitting theme for a day filled with reconnection, celebration, student voices and learning from one another.
Children test out virtual reality goggles on Durango School District's new Ignite Mobile Learning Lab bus.

Ignite bus stops and weekly theme for Aug. 17-21

Each week, DSD's Ignite Mobile Learning Lab features a new STEAM theme (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics), with fresh, hands-on learning experiences for students of all ages.
A YouTube thumbnail showing new school furniture

Get a sneak peek at new school furniture

We recently stopped by Escalante Middle School and Durango High School for a sneak peek at some of the new furniture in our schools, and we’re getting definite retro-futuristic, Jetsons vibes.
Volunteer opportunity: Join the Long-Range Planning Committee and help shape the future of DSD

You can help shape the future of DSD

The Long-Range Planning Committee is looking for visionary volunteers who are committed to serving our students in ways that will impact generations to come.
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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

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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. 
Join our team

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.