The 2025–26 school year is starting with a financial gut check for District 51.

Already one of Colorado’s lowest-funded school districts, it’s now staring down even tighter margins — thanks to state budget shortfalls, withheld federal funding, and a grim economic outlook that shows no signs of easing up.

$2 Million Vanishes — And With It, Stability

Superintendent Dr. Brian Hill didn’t mince words when asked about the situation.

“That pays for a lot of essential services. It pays for the staff that we have in our schools, supporting our students,” he said. “And so, when you don’t have those funds coming in again, it puts us in a bad situation in the district.”

The district was notified that roughly $2 million in federal funding won’t be arriving this year. That’s a significant hit, especially when paired with less-than-expected state support and the expiration of pandemic-era relief funding.

One sentence for impact.

It’s left District 51 staring down a year of difficult trade-offs and delicate choices.

Among the Lowest Funded in Colorado — And Feeling It

District 51 already operates near the bottom of the state’s funding ladder.

According to Dr. Hill, the district ranks 174th out of 178 school districts in per-pupil funding. That leaves little wiggle room for error — or emergencies.

Reserve funds are helping cushion the blow, but even those have limits. The district had been building up savings to hedge against precisely this kind of budget turbulence, but it’s far from a long-term fix.

This year, they’re using part of that reserve just to stay afloat.

A Budget That’s Bare-Bones — And Still Sinking

This isn’t just about balancing books — it’s about what’s left when the money runs out.

District leaders are trying to keep the focus on two things: student achievement and supporting staff. But with fewer resources, even those goals are under pressure.

Dr. Hill laid it out plainly: “While this is a tight year for our budget, we are anticipating that this next year is going to be even worse.”

Here’s a snapshot of the financial headwinds District 51 is navigating:

• Lower-than-expected state funding allocation

• $2M in federal funds withheld

• Reserve fund used for essential services

• Growing concern over future budget forecasts

It’s not just tight — it’s shrinking. And it may continue to do so for years.

No Raises This Year — But a Stipend Deal Eases Tension

On July 14, District 51 reached a budget deal with the Teacher’s Association.

Negotiations were rougher than usual. With no room for salary increases, the district offered a one-time stipend instead — a compromise to acknowledge staff effort without long-term payroll implications.

Dr. Hill acknowledged the difficulty of that choice. “It was a hard negotiation, not because we don’t value our staff — but because the money simply wasn’t there.”

For teachers, it’s a mixed bag: relief to have an agreement, but concern about how long the district can keep things together without meaningful raises or investment in school programs.

The Numbers Behind the Pain

To put it in perspective, here’s how District 51 stacks up in key areas of funding and budget impact:

That last line — “likely worse” — is haunting every decision being made right now.

Still Focused on Students — Somehow

Despite everything, the district says the priority remains students.

“It’s really important that we make sure that however we’re spending our funds, especially in tight budget years, that at the end of the day it’s having a positive impact on students,” said Dr. Hill.

But when belts tighten, support staff disappear. Enrichment programs shrink. Tech upgrades are shelved. Repairs get delayed.

And the damage? It adds up quietly.

One sentence break.

This year might hurt — but the fear is that next year could break something.