Sunnyside Elementary Home

Kind, safe, responsible problem-solvers

About Us

Sunnyside Elementary School is located in La Plata County, Colorado. We offer a developmentally appropriate curriculum based on Colorado Academic Standards to approximately 109 students in preschool through fifth grade. Sunnyside is a small, rural school that has all the services offered in larger schools, while still providing a family environment.

Learn more

students & teachers wave flags during recess

Where we’re located

Mission

Here at Sunnyside, we believe that the improved academic achievement of each student is a shared responsibility among all the adults in the child's life and the child. By working together, we provide our students with a strong foundation for success.

School & District News

PK/KG Open House - 4/3

Our PK/KG Open House will take place this Thursday, 4/3 from 4:30-5:30! Please see the attached flyer for more information.

Student meets school representative at a table

DEF Spring Resource Fair is a one-stop resource for families

The public is invited to the 2025 Durango Education Foundation Spring Resource Fair. This free event will be held April 2, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave.

Five smiling children in purple shirts proudly holding a 2025 trophy, all wearing medals around their necks

Riverview Elementary School fifth graders win district's first regional Battle of the Books

At the Impact Career Innovation Center on March 4, the chatter of excited elementary students filled the halls as 30 teams from across Southwest Colorado prepared to put their reading skills to the test. But this was no ordinary quiz — it was the first-ever Battle of the Books hosted by Durango School District, and for the third through fifth graders participating, it was both a celebration of literature and a test of teamwork, grit, and recall.

A high schooler stands in front of several pieces of art on display, next to her graphite drawing of an elk in a mountain field

Youth Art Month Exhibition showcases student talent

For more than 25 years, Durango School District’s Youth Art Month Exhibition has provided a space for student creativity to shine — and this year’s show may be one of the most dynamic yet.

Young children in colorful outfits stretch and exercise in a classroom with small tables, chairs, and a play mat on the floor.

Open House dates for kindergarten and preschool + kindergarten screening events

Families and new students are invited to come learn about our preschool and kindergarten programs at our spring 2025 Open House events. If your child is entering kindergarten in the 2025-26 school year, we welcome you to participate in our kindergarten screening.

Medical clipboard with 'Measles' in bold text, surrounded by a stethoscope, syringes, and blue-and-white capsules

Measles: Regional outbreaks + what the law requires if there's a confirmed case at school

Due to the growing measles outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico and the high rate of tourism to our area, the Durango School District (DSD) Health Services Department is working to prepare and educate our students, families, and staff about measles and what to expect if there is a confirmed case in our schools.

A decorative graphic with floral illustrations and the text

Spring Break is March 17-21

Spring Break for Durango School District schools is Monday, March 17, through Friday, March 21. All schools will be closed. Regular class schedules will resume on Monday, March 24.

Big news: Abre is coming soon

We’re thrilled to announce that after Spring Break, families of secondary students will have access to Abre – a powerful tool designed to bring all your student’s important school information together in one place. From grades and assignments to key updates, Abre makes it easier than ever to stay connected and engaged in your student’s education.

Show All News

Principal's Message

Welcome to Sunnyside Elementary School! We are inspiring and equipping our students to make a mighty impact on their world, both now and in their future, by explicitly teaching them how to become “Bulldog Scholars.” Our scholars are engaged in active learning by opening their minds, taking educational risks, persevering through struggles, and reflecting on their learning and themselves.

Events

Apr 3

SIPTA Meeting

Time: 8 AM – 9:30 AM

Location: Sunnyside Library

Apr 21

Professional Development Day - No School

May 1

SIPTA Meeting

Time: 8 AM – 9:30 AM

Location: Sunnyside Library

May 23

Last Day of School

Show All Events

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

It is the goal of Durango School District 9-R that the information on this website be accessible to individuals with visual, hearing, or cognitive disabilities. Good faith efforts are being made to ensure that our website complies with web accessibility standards.

Most pages on our site are available in HTML format, which can be read by screen readers. Some documents are in Adobe PDF format, requiring Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded for free from the Adobe website. Additionally, some documents are in Google Docs, and Google Forms. Most modern browsers and screen readers can access Google-based documents. More information about Google web products accessibility can be found on the Google Accessibility website.

In order to ensure that Durango School District websites are accessible to everyone in our community, including those with disabilities, we are using the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0.

If you cannot access any page(s) on our site, please email us at [email protected]. Include the location of the webpage/document, your name, email address, and phone number so we can provide the information in another format, and address the issue.