Our Past

The School District was organized for business in 1896 shortly after Teller County separated from El Paso County. The first high school was built in 1897 with the gym, math and science rooms added in 1899. At the turn of the century, there were schools located in Lawrence, Mound City, Arequa Gulch, Hull’s Camp, Anaconda, the high school in Victor, Spring Creek, Altman, Cameron, Gillette and Goldfield; of which only Cripple Creek, Victor and Goldfield remain visible today. In 1905, the district boasted over 120 teachers and was considered one of the best school systems in the nation. The school in South Goldfield alone had an enrollment of 600 students. Prior to World War I, many people left what was once called the “World’s Greatest Gold Camp” and the enrollment declined. After WWI, The district experienced a roller coaster ride in enrollment with surges up to 200 and down to 169 in 1970. At this time the elementary school was located in Victor and the high school was located in Cripple Creek. In 1955, Cripple Creek High School and Victor High School combined, so the Cripple Creek-Victor Pioneers were born out of the Victor “Miners, “ and the Cripple Creek “Pirates.” The elementary and high school were combined on April 1, 1975. A bond issue was passed for the construction and equipping of a new K-12 school.