both to nearby Mesa Verde National Park as well as to San Juan National Forest, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in the area (including Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, as well as the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Navajo Indian Reservations). Mesa Verde National Park, featuring Ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellings, is situated southeast of Cortez. Cortez is home to the headquarters of Osprey Packs, who employ over 100 people in Cortez. Education Cortez Public Schools are part of the Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1. The district has one preschool, five elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. The educational system is currently suffering a loss of 1.6% according to the Transitional Colorado Assessment Program. Montezuma-Cortez RE-1 Pre-School, Kemper Elementary School, Lewis-Arriola Elementary School, Manaugh Elementary School, Mesa Elementary Schools, Pleasant View Elementary School, Cortez Middle School and Montezuma-Cortez High School are located in Cortez. The high school mascot is the Panther. Government The City Council of Cortez is composed of seven members including the Mayor and Mayor Pro-tem. The current mayor of Cortez is Michael J. Lavey. Transportation Cortez Municipal Airport serves Cortez. Cortez is part of Colorado's Bustang network. It is on the Durango-Grand Junction Outrider line. Notable people Eli Tomac, Motocross & 2020 Supercross champion. Scott Tipton, U.S. House of Representatives - Colorado's 3rd District William B. Ebbert, popular rancher and politician, represented Cortez in the Colorado General Assembly in early 20th century. Michael Milenski, Cortez native who was founder and general director of Long Beach Opera. Vince Lee, American architect, climber, mountaineer, Andean explorer, environmentalist, megalith researcher Chuck Nevitt, former NBA basketball player See also Colorado Bibliography of Colorado Index of Colorado-related articles Outline of Colorado List of counties in Colorado List of municipalities in Colorado List of places in Colorado Four Corners References External links City of Cortez website CDOT map of the City of Cortez Cities in Montezuma County, Colorado Cities in Colorado County seats in Colorado Populated places established in 1886 1886 establishments in Colorado