- Enrollment
- 1,832
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Fruita, CO
Fruita Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Fruita Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 080435000608
👥 S:T ratio 16
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 31
📋 Attendance 28
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fruita Middle School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of Colorado schools.
- #3 of 7
- public schools in Fruita · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.9:1
- large classes for Colorado
- 22.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Fruita Middle School has class sizes larger than 89% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fruita Middle School ranks #3 of 7 public schools in Fruita, CO.
School address
District: Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 · Colorado
NCES ID 080435000608 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-37 students YoY
Fruita Middle School shrank from 496 students in 2022-23 to 459 in 2023-24 (-7.5%).
Teacher FTE lost 33.6 → 29.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-37 students YoY 080435000608 · Fruita, CO Middle · MID · TRAD
690 enr · 20.9:1 · 22.6% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Grand Junction High School (1,832 students)
Fruita Middle School shrank from 496 students in 2022-23 to 459 in 2023-24 (-7.5%). Teacher FTE lost 33.6 → 29.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Fruita Middle 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 690
Fruita Middle School
690 students
What this shows Fruita Middle School reports 690 students on the CCD universe file.
How Fruita Middle School compares
Fruita Middle School is a shrinking 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 | 20.9:1 | ▲ 26% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 22.6% | ▼ 41% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 690 | top 15% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.9:1
Leaner classes than 13% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
690
Bigger than 80% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
22.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% 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
20.9:1
students per teacher
- 26% above state mean
Top 89% in Colorado - lower ratio than 11% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
29.0%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 347 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
128
in-school suspensions + 27 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 18.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 22.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 80.3%
Hispanic or Latino 14.3%
Two or More 3.6%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
African American 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 80.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 33.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 33.3, Fruita Middle 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 Fruita Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Junction High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fruita Monument High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Palisade High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Fruita 8/9 School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fruita Middle 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 middle 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 (~690 students)
Frequently asked questions about Fruita Middle School
How many students attend Fruita Middle School?
Fruita Middle School has 690 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Fruita, CO. CCD year-over-year: 496 (2022-23) → 459 (2023-24), down 37.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fruita Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Fruita Middle School is 20.9:1, which is 26% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 33% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Fruita Middle School?
22.6% of students at Fruita Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fruita Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Fruita Middle School is White at 80.3% of enrollment, in Fruita, CO.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fruita Middle School?
Fruita Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Fruita Middle School rank among public schools in Fruita?
By Resource Investment Index, Fruita Middle School ranks #3 of 7 public schools in Fruita, CO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Fruita on the city page.
What other schools are in Mesa County Valley School District No. 51?
Besides Fruita Middle 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.