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

Don't forget! No school on Monday - Conference Day

Conference Day is Oct. 19 + BGC Day Camp available

Monday, Oct. 19, is a Conference Day. While there are no classes for students, all Durango School District (DSD) school buildings will be open to accommodate conferences. Schools will resume normal class schedules on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Fall Break is Oct. 9-12, 2026

Fall Break is here: Classes resume Oct. 13

It's Fall Break, and Durango School District (DSD) schools will be closed through Monday, Oct. 12. We look forward to welcoming our students back when classes resume on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Bravo Award winner Caitlin Gavrielides

Bravo Award Winner: Caitlin Gavrielides

Throughout each school year, DSD employees nominate their colleagues for Bravo Awards, an honor that recognizes faculty and staff who demonstrate Portrait of a Graduate attributes as they go above and beyond for students and the district.
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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

State of the District Event

Time: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Location: Impact Career Innovation Center, 2410 Main Ave, Durango, CO 81301, USA
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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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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.