“This class really represents the many different pathways students can take after high school,” said DHS Principal Jon Hoerl. “Whether students are headed to a university, into the workforce, the military, or a skilled trade, they are leaving Durango High School with meaningful experiences and opportunities already behind them.”
By the numbers, the Class of 2026 stands out in several key areas:
- 311 graduating seniors
- 595 students in grades 9–12 took college-level concurrent enrollment courses through Fort Lewis College and Pueblo Community College this school year
- 530 students took one or more Pueblo Community College classes
- 133 students took one or more Fort Lewis College classes
- 981 Advanced Placement (AP) exams were ordered this year
- 584 students took one or more AP exams
- $7.8 million is the amount DHS estimates that AP and concurrent enrollment opportunities saved families approximately last year through reduced future college tuition costs
Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs also continue to grow at DHS.
- 13 Career and Technical Education pathways were offered at DHS this year
- 70% is the approximate percentage of DHS students are enrolled in at least one CTE course this school year
- 55% is the approximate number of students who are enrolled in a full CTE pathway sequence
Based on preliminary data, DHS students are expected to earn approximately 250 industry-recognized credentials this year, including certifications in health sciences, construction trades, welding, culinary arts, engineering design, aviation, business analytics, and digital media.
Credentials and certifications earned by students include:
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
- Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)
- OSHA 10 Certification
- Home Builders Institute Pre-Apprenticeship certifications
- Culinary ServSafe Manager Certification
- American Welding Society Certified Welder
- Adobe Certified Professional
- Certified SolidWorks Associate
- Google Analytics certification
Students also earned approximately 200 additional workplace and safety certifications, including CPR/AED, Stop the Bleed, Narcan training, and entry-level early childhood education certificates.
Academically, the Class of 2026 is also breaking records.
- 4.6+ is the projected and weighted GPA of three students who will graduate this year — a first in DHS history
- 4.72 is the projected and weighted GPA of the top-ranked student
- 3.45 is the current senior class GPA, before final semester grades are calculated
This year’s graduating class also includes a Boettcher Scholar, a Coca-Cola Scholar, an ROTC scholarship recipient, and two National Merit Finalists — the first time DHS has had two National Merit Finalists in more than a decade.
School leaders say the Class of 2026 also includes the largest number of students entering skilled trades careers in over a decade, alongside one of the largest groups of student-athletes committing to collegiate athletics in recent memory.
In total, DHS expects the Class of 2026 to meet or exceed last year’s record-setting $9.2 million in scholarship offers.
“Behind every statistic is a student story,” Hoerl said. “We have first-generation college students, students who overcame significant challenges, students pursuing careers in the trades, students headed into medicine, aviation, education, engineering, and military service. We’re incredibly proud of this class and the many ways they are defining success.”
Graduation rates for the Class of 2026 will be finalized later this summer following the state reporting window.