Como School

Como School students, 1936.

The Como School, located on Spruce Street in the mountain town of Como, Colorado, served as a central institution for local education from its founding in 1883 until its closure in 1948. Originally built as a one-room grade school, the wooden-frame structure featured a classic hipped roof and a distinctive bell tower, reflecting the architectural style of rural schoolhouses in the late 19th century. Inside, students in grades one through eight were divided by an aisle—grades one through four sat on one side, while older students in grades five through eight sat on the other. In this multi-age setting, students often learned at their own pace, with teachers offering individualized instruction. Peer teaching was common, as older students helped younger ones, reinforcing both academic and social skills.[1] 

Como School, now the Como Civic Center.

As Como’s educational needs expanded in the early 1930s, a small gabled-roof building was relocated to the school grounds to serve as a dedicated high school facility. Rather than constructing a new building from scratch, the community adapted what was available—an example of the resourcefulness typical of rural towns at the time. The resulting school complex included the original grade school, the high school building, two outhouses, and a storage shed.[2] These additions, though modest, reflected the town’s commitment to providing a full K–12 education despite limited resources. For many families in the area, the school was not only a place of learning but also a vital part of daily life—where children gathered, milestones were marked, and the values of perseverance and self-reliance were passed down.