Mesa County Valley School District No. 51

2115 Grand Avenue
Grand Junction, CO 81501-8063
(District boundaries shown in map)
7/
10
Top 50%

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 26 public preschools serving 8,529 students in Mesa County Valley School District No. 51. This district's average pre testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public pre schools in Colorado.
Public Preschools in Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 have an average math proficiency score of 33% (versus the Colorado public pre school average of 35%), and reading proficiency score of 41% (versus the 43% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 31% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Colorado public preschool average of 54% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (CO)
# Schools
44 Schools
813 Schools
# Students
19,753 Students
300,466 Students
# Teachers
1,199 Teachers
19,512 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.
This School District
State Average (CO)
#65 out of 179 school districts
(Top 50%)
29%
33%
41%
45%
(20-21)
23%
29%
80%
82%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.46
0.64
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
25%
38%
% Black
1%
5%
% White
69%
46%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
6%
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.
This School District
This State (CO)
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 Preschools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Wingate Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
351 South Camp Road
Grand Junction, CO 81507
(970) 254-4960
Gr: PK-5 | 363 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #22.
Broadway Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2248 Broadway
Grand Junction, CO 81503
(970) 254-6430
Gr: PK-5 | 300 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #33.
Appleton Elementary School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2358 H Road
Grand Junction, CO 81505
(970) 254-6400
Gr: PK-5 | 439 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #44.
Gateway School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
42575 Highway 141
Gateway, CO 81522
(970) 254-7080
Gr: PK-12 | 12 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #55.
Monument Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1501 K.4 Rd
Fruita, CO 81521
(970) 254-5100
Gr: PK-5 | 300 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
Dual Immersion Academy School
Alternative School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
552 A West Main Street
Grand Junction, CO 81501
(970) 254-6070
Gr: PK-5 | 310 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
Tope Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2220 N 7th St
Grand Junction, CO 81501
(970) 254-7070
Gr: PK-5 | 370 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #88.
Mesa View Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2967 B Road
Grand Junction, CO 81503
(970) 254-7970
Gr: PK-5 | 375 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #99.
Orchard Avenue Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1800 Orchard Ave
Grand Junction, CO 81501
(970) 254-7560
Gr: PK-5 | 319 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #1010.
Taylor Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
689 Brentwood Dr
Palisade, CO 81526
(970) 254-4870
Gr: PK-5 | 310 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #1111.
Lincoln Orchard Mesa Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2888 B1/2 Road
Grand Junction, CO 81503
(970) 254-7940
Gr: PK-5 | 289 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #1212.
Shelledy Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
353 North Mesa
Fruita, CO 81521
(970) 254-6460
Gr: PK-5 | 371 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
Chatfield Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
3188 D1/2 Road
Grand Junction, CO 81504
(970) 254-4930
Gr: PK-5 | 371 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
Rim Rock Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1810 J 6 Road
Fruita, CO 81521
(970) 254-6770
Gr: PK-5 | 292 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #1515.
Independence Academy
Charter School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
675 29 Rd
Grand Junction, CO 81504
(970) 254-6850
Gr: PK-8 | 491 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #1616.
Pomona Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
588 25-1/2 Road
Grand Junction, CO 81505
(970) 254-4990
Gr: PK-5 | 395 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #1717.
Loma Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1360 13 Road
Loma, CO 81524
(970) 254-6520
Gr: PK-5 | 207 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #1818.
Chipeta Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
950 Chipeta Avenue
Grand Junction, CO 81501
(970) 254-6825
Gr: PK-5 | 364 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #1919.
Fruitvale Elementary School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
585 30 Road
Grand Junction, CO 81504
(970) 254-5930
Gr: PK-5 | 358 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #2020.
Dos Rios Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
265 Linden Ave
Grand Junction, CO 81503
(970) 254-7910
Gr: PK-5 | 293 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #2121.
Thunder Mountain Elementary School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
3063 F1/2 Road
Grand Junction, CO 81504
(970) 254-5870
Gr: PK-5 | 432 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #2222.
Pear Park Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
432 30 1/4 Road
Grand Junction, CO 81504
(970) 254-5960
Gr: PK-5 | 428 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #2323.
Nisley Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
543 28-3/4 Road
Grand Junction, CO 81501
(970) 254-5900
Gr: PK-5 | 346 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #2424.
Rocky Mountain Elementary School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 22%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3260 D1/2 Road
Clifton, CO 81520
(970) 254-4900
Gr: PK-5 | 395 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #2525.
Clifton Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3276 F Road
Clifton, CO 81520
(970) 254-4760
Gr: PK-5 | 346 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: n/an/a
2935 North Avenue
Grand Junction, CO 81504
(970) 254-5100
Gr: PK | 53 students Minority enrollment: 36%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 44 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 19,753 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 31%
  • : 80% (Top 50% in CO)
  • : Top 50%
  • : 29% (Top 50%)
  • : 41% (Top 50%)
  • : 23% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CO Dept. of Education

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