Needham Elementary Home

Inspiring students to be life-long learners.
girl looking at garden bed

About Us

We are the Needham Wildcats, and proud to be a walk-able, bike-able and friendly neighborhood school! We have two preschool classrooms and three classrooms for each of the grades kindergarten through fifth.
2 girls in STEM class
Where we’re located
Durango School District map
school building

Mission

Needham Elementary School is a community committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment that fosters mutual respect and academic excellence. We challenge students to make creative, meaningful, and reflective contributions, and to succeed with integrity. Our students are inspired to be life-long learners and to become at home in the world. 

School & District News

potential ballot measure survey

Survey now open on potential ballot measure

Beginning April 18, we encourage everyone in La Plata County – district staff, families, community members – to participate in an important survey regarding public education programs, policies, and a potential ballot measure this November 2024.
graphic of rocket and space walker

DHS Women in STEM club host design sprint event

Durango High School (DHS) Women in STEM club is hosting a design sprint on Sunday, April 21 for grades 4-8 to build interest in STEM fields and to encourage incoming middle and high schoolers to begin or continue to follow a STEM pathway.
drawing of happy people in a field

DHS Green Team coloring contest

The Durango High School (DHS) Green Team is sponsoring an elementary school art contest! The process is simple: choose one of 2 coloring pages to complete with your original design and submit your work for the opportunity to receive a Cream Bean Berry gift card. Submissions are due April 15th.
kindergarten kids around table

Early Access Applications Available February 1

Durango School District 9-R has the opportunity to accelerate highly advanced gifted children under age 5 for kindergarten and/or under age 6 for first grade. This Early Access is for those eligible students if their birthdays fall after October 1. It is intended to support students who are evaluated to be exceptional in aptitude/cognitive reasoning, academics, school readiness, and motivation.
graphic

Free STEM Fair For All Kids, ages 5-14, Sunday, Dec. 3

The Durango High School's Women in STEM Club is hosting a free STEM Fair at Escalante Middle School on Sunday, Dec. 3, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. for all kids, ages 5-14. There will be fun engineering challenges, science experiments, technological investigations, and snacks.
Little girl having bandage applied after getting vaccine.

Mobile Vaccine Van Offers Required School Vaccines

We are excited to announce that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) will be bringing a mobile vaccine van to two Durango 9-R school locations to help families catch up on the required school vaccines.
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Principal Alderton holding award

Principal's Message

Needham Elementary School is a community committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment that fosters mutual respect and academic excellence. We challenge students to make creative, meaningful, and reflective contributions, and to succeed with integrity. Our students are inspired to be life-long learners and to become at home in the world. 

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. 
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