Top Rankings
Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Colorado for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 5 public high schools serving 6,560 students in Mesa County Valley School District No. 51. This district's average high testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public high schools in Colorado.
Public High Schools in Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 have an average math proficiency score of 30% (versus the Colorado public high school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 51% (versus the 53% statewide average).
Public High School in Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 have a Graduation Rate of 80%, which is less than the Colorado average of 82%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Fruita Monument High School, with 92% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Colorado or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 31% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Colorado public high school average of 51% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CO)
# Schools
44 Schools
536 Schools
# Students
19,753 Students
323,662 Students
# Teachers
1,199 Teachers
18,099 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Mesa County Valley School District No. 51, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 176 school districts in Colorado (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 80% has decreased from 81% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#65 out of 179 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
29%
33%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
45%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)23%
29%
Graduation Rate
80%
82%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.46
0.62
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
1%
3%
% Hispanic
25%
37%
% Black
1%
5%
% White
69%
49%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,245 in this school district is less than the state median of $15,520. The school district revenue/student has grown by 9% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,706 is less than the state median of $15,839. The school district spending/student has declined by 9% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$281 MM
$13,426 MM
Spending
$271 MM
$13,702 MM
Revenue / Student
$14,245
$15,520
Spending / Student
$13,706
$15,839
Best Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 Public High Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Mesa Valley Community School
Charter School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
609 25 Road
Grand Junction, CO 81505
(970) 254-7202
Grand Junction, CO 81505
(970) 254-7202
Gr: 6-12 | 178 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #22.
Gateway School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
42575 Highway 141
Gateway, CO 81522
(970) 254-7080
Gateway, CO 81522
(970) 254-7080
Gr: PK-12 | 12 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #33.
Fruita Monument High School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1102 Wildcat Ave
Fruita, CO 81521
(970) 254-6600
Fruita, CO 81521
(970) 254-6600
Gr: 9-12 | 1,427 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #44.
Central High School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
3130 E1/2 Road
Grand Junction, CO 81504
(970) 254-6200
Grand Junction, CO 81504
(970) 254-6200
Gr: 9-12 | 1,352 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: n/an/a
Grand Mesa Youth Services Center
Alternative School
360 28 Road
Grand Junction, CO 81501
(970) 242-8445
Grand Junction, CO 81501
(970) 242-8445
Gr: 5-12 | 18 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Recent Articles
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.
