- Enrollment
- 1,352
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Hesperus, CO
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 080348000450
👥 S:T ratio 58
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 18
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 90% of Colorado schools.
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.5:1
- small classes for Colorado
- 46.9%
- free-lunch eligible
- 116
- students enrolled
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 90% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Durango School District No. 9-R · Colorado
NCES ID 080348000450 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+8 students YoY
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School grew from 98 students in 2022-23 to 106 in 2023-24 (+8.2%).
Teacher FTE lost 11.6 → 10.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+8 students YoY 080348000450 · Hesperus, CO Other · SMALL · TRAD
116 enr · 10.5:1 · 46.9% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Durango High School (1,352 students)
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School grew from 98 students in 2022-23 to 106 in 2023-24 (+8.2%). Teacher FTE lost 11.6 → 10.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Durango High S
Durango High School
1,352 students
- Colorado Conne
Colorado Connections Academy @ Durango
964 students
- Escalante Midd 461
Escalante Middle School
461 students
- Park Elementar 452
Park Elementary School
452 students
- Riverview Elem 374
Riverview Elementary School
374 students
- This school 116
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School
116 students
What this shows Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School reports 116 students on the CCD universe file.
How Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School compares
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Colorado and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Colorado | Colorado avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.5:1 | ▼ 37% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 46.9% | ▲ 22% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 116 | top 86% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.5:1
Leaner classes than 86% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
116
Bigger than 11% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
46.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% above the Colorado average of 38.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
10.5:1
students per teacher
- 37% below state mean
Top 10% in Colorado - lower ratio than 90% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
32.8%
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
$14,729
per pupil, district-wide
- below Colorado avg of $17,910
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 72.4%
Hispanic or Latino 21.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.4%
Two or More 1.7%
African American 0.9%
Largest group: White at 72.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 42.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 42.8, Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School is less mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Durango School District No. 9-R reports $14,729 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durango High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Colorado Connections Academy @ Durango | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Escalante Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Park Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Riverview Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 964
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 461
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 452
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 374
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
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 (~116 students)
Frequently asked questions about Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School
How many students attend Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School?
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School has 116 students enrolled. It is a public school in Hesperus, CO. CCD year-over-year: 98 (2022-23) → 106 (2023-24), up 8.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School is 10.5:1, which is 37% lower than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 33% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School?
46.9% of students at Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School is White at 72.4% of enrollment, in Hesperus, CO.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School?
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
What other schools are in Durango School District No. 9-R?
Besides Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School, Durango School District No. 9-R also operates Durango High School (1,352 students), Colorado Connections Academy @ Durango (964 students), and Escalante Middle School (461 students). See the Durango School District No. 9-R district page for the complete list.