About the Records
The Colorado State Archives has many records which document the State's public school system including its administration, school districts, teachers, and students. These records may be used for historical or genealogical research.
More recent records, such as teaching certificates, and some school transcripts are also held by the State Archives.
How to Find Information
Department of Education Administrative Records
Records concerning education in the state of Colorado, as a whole. Includes records like: state and school district annual reports, district reorganization reports, and superintendent correspondence.
In order to locate a record, the researcher must provide the county, school district name or number and approximate dates to search.
Teacher Records are records concerning individual teachers (e.g. teaching certificates)
Student Records are records concerning individual students (e.g. school census records)
School District Lists: A reference list of school district numbers and locations. Organized by county, this can be a helpful tool in researching the Archives’ other school records.
Historical Teacher Records
Certifications
Crowley County Teacher Certificates (1920-1950) - The actual record is a listing of the approved teachers. This list shows their name and may include the date, type of teaching certificate they possess and the town of residence
Adams County Teacher Certificates (1913-1935) - The actual record is a listing of the approved teachers. This list shows their name and may include the date, type of teaching certificate they possess and the town of residence
Dolores County Teacher Certificates (1881 - 1923) - The actual record is a listing of the approved teachers. This list shows their name and may include the date, type of teaching certificate they possess, their age and nativity.
Rio Grande County Teacher Certificate Applications (1874-1893) - The record includes the name of the teacher, their date of certification, the grade they taught, their town of residence, and where they came from.
Use Archives Search to look for teacher historical certificates.
Certification Renewals, may include:
- name
- birthdate
- marital status
- salary
- years of teaching experience
- teaching level
- highest degree
- level of teaching certificate
- date of certificate expiration
- certification renewal date
Teacher Lists
Teacher Record/Experience Cards, may include:
- name
- address
- school district number
- annual salary
- level of certificate
- how many years teaching
- certification expiration dates
Teacher Registers
Contemporary Teacher Records
Teacher Certificates
Prior to 1979 teacher certificates are filed alphabetically. Provide your name at the time the certificate was issued to receive a copy of your teaching certificate.
From 1979-2002 researchers must provide their certificate number. Don't know your number? Find it at the Educator Licensing page of the Colorado Department of Education.
Historical Student Records
School Census
The school census may include (view an example):
- teachers name
- pupil’s name
- name of the parents/guardian
- home address
- date of birth
- nativity of parents
- grade last attended
Some school census records are searchable using Archives Search:
Other Student Records
- Student Attendance Records
- Elbert County 8th Grade Promotions, 1918-1930
- Gilpin County Colored School Register, June 1867
- Image of the Register
Contemporary Records
Closed Occupational School Transcripts - Check this finding aid to see where your transcript is held.
- If the left column says “Archives”, Request a Copy of your transcript.
- If the left column says “DPOS”, contact the Division of Private Occupational Schools.
High School Transcripts
The Colorado State Archives has NO contemporary high school transcripts.
A few places to look for high school transcripts:
- Public Schools - Contact the school or school district office.
- Private Schools - Contact the school or any institution that was affiliated with the school, such as the archdiocese, church, or any other sponsoring body
GED Transcripts
For GED transcripts please visit the Colorado Department of Education's page for GED transcriptions.
The following files are PDFs.
| Colorado Counties A-K | Colorado Counties L-W |
|---|---|
To Request a Record
To search our records, please see Archives Search.
To request a record from the Archives, please submit a formal request.
- See also our associated fees