Animas Valley Elementary Home

Our goal
at AVE is
every student,
every day.
Principal & assistant principal welcome a student

About Us

Animas Valley Elementary is a PreK-5 school located in a beautiful valley just north of Durango, Colorado. Our school is grounded in a School Family model. Through building relationships, we support one another's academic and social emotional growth. Mistakes are an opportunity to learn, and we take pride in our ability to persevere. We utilize structures for coaching self-regulation, class meetings as a venue for democratic problem solving, and we tackle challenges as well as celebrate our success together. Our family culture can be felt throughout our school.
student and teacher "high-five"
Where we’re located
Durango School District map
school building

Mission

Our vision is to guide learners as we develop  the tools and mindsets to continually seek and understand the world and ourselves. Learners will demonstrate confidence, compassion and value diversity. Everyone will leave our school with the ability to apply, transfer and reflect on concepts because we are motivated to ask questions and discover solutions.

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.
Students with perfect attendance

January Perfect Attendance

Our goal at AVE is every student, every day. We know that every day counts and impacts student success. We celebrated 52 students who had 0 tardies, 0 absences, and 0 early checkouts during the month of January!! We have 6 students who have not missed a day of school so far this year! Way to go, Huskies!
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.
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Michol Brammer, Principal of Animas Valley Elementary School

Principal's Message

Welcome Husky students and families! We have a School Family Culture created through the implementation of social/emotional learning structures that promote increased emotional intelligence. Our school has other distinguishing characteristics, including: Thinking Strategies Institute-trained teachers; Workshop model classrooms;  Orton-Gillingham-trained teachers; and flexible grouping.   – Michol Brammer, Principal

Events

Fun Run

Time: 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM
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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