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. 
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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

Top half of a clock that reads 2:12

Mondays are Early Release days

Mondays are Early Release days for all students. School ends one hour earlier. Please check your school's bell schedule on the Durango School District (DSD) Back to School Hub webpage for the Monday release time.
Durango School District Summer Bridge Summer Learning Program

Final Summer Bridge check-in ends Sept. 4

The final check-in for Summer Bridge is happening now. Students have until Friday, Sept. 4, to turn in their completed literacy and math books to their school's front office and be entered for the big end-of-summer raffle.
A teacher and a high school student converse at a table

Welcome back to a new school year

"I'm having all the feels today," said Aaron Schiff, special education teacher for Durango Big Picture High School (DBPHS). Same! That was true for all of us — families, students, and staff across our district — as we gathered together again on an exciting first day of school on Aug. 25.
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.
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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.