- Enrollment
- 1,832
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Grand Junction, CO
Appleton Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Appleton Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 080435000597
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 47
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Appleton Elementary School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Colorado median.
- #10 of 21
- schools in Grand Junction · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.6:1
- students per teacher
- 15.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Appleton Elementary School has class sizes near the Colorado median. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Appleton Elementary School ranks #10 of 21 schools in Grand Junction, CO.
School address
District: Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 · Colorado
NCES ID 080435000597 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-6 students YoY
Appleton Elementary School held near 447 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 25.3 → 24.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-6 students YoY 080435000597 · Grand Junction, CO Other · SMALL · TRAD
439 enr · 17.6:1 · 15.5% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Grand Junction High School (1,832 students)
Appleton Elementary School held near 447 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 25.3 → 24.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Appleton Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Grand Junction
Grand Junction High School
1,832 students
- Fruita Monumen
Fruita Monument High School
1,427 students
- Central High S
Central High School
1,352 students
- Palisade High
Palisade High School
1,073 students
- Fruita 8/9 Sch 704
Fruita 8/9 School
704 students
- This school 439
Appleton Elementary School
439 students
What this shows Appleton Elementary School reports 439 students on the CCD universe file.
How Appleton Elementary School compares
Appleton Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Colorado and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Colorado | Colorado avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.6:1 | ▲ 6% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 15.5% | ▼ 60% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 439 | top 37% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.6:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
439
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
15.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 60% below the Colorado average of 38.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.6:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 68% in Colorado - lower ratio than 32% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
21.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,834
per pupil, district-wide
- below Colorado avg of $17,910
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 83.6%
Hispanic or Latino 11.8%
Two or More 2.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.4%
Asian 0.9%
Largest group: White at 83.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 28.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 28.6, Appleton Elementary School is less mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 reports $12,834 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Appleton Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Junction High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fruita Monument High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Central High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Palisade High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Fruita 8/9 School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Appleton Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,427
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,352
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,073
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 704
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~439 students)
Frequently asked questions about Appleton Elementary School
How many students attend Appleton Elementary School?
Appleton Elementary School has 439 students enrolled. It is a public school in Grand Junction, CO. CCD year-over-year: 453 (2022-23) → 447 (2023-24), nearly flat (-6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Appleton Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Appleton Elementary School is 17.6:1, which is 6% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 12% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Appleton Elementary School?
15.5% of students at Appleton Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Appleton Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Appleton Elementary School is White at 83.6% of enrollment, in Grand Junction, CO.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Appleton Elementary School?
Appleton Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Appleton Elementary School rank among schools in Grand Junction?
By Resource Investment Index, Appleton Elementary School ranks #10 of 21 schools in Grand Junction, CO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Grand Junction on the city page.
What other schools are in Mesa County Valley School District No. 51?
Besides Appleton Elementary School, Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 also operates Grand Junction High School (1,832 students), Fruita Monument High School (1,427 students), and Central High School (1,352 students). See the Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 district page for the complete list.