- Enrollment
- 1,832
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Grand Junction, CO
Grand Mesa Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Grand Mesa Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 080435001656
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 52
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Grand Mesa Middle School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 77% of Colorado schools.
- #1 of 6
- middle schools in Grand Junction · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.9:1
- small classes for Colorado
- 43.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Grand Mesa Middle School has class sizes smaller than 77% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Grand Mesa Middle School ranks #1 of 6 middle schools in Grand Junction, CO.
School address
District: Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 · Colorado
NCES ID 080435001656 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+14 students YoY
Grand Mesa Middle School held near 525 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 37.3 → 30.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+14 students YoY 080435001656 · Grand Junction, CO Middle · SMALL · TRAD
476 enr · 12.9:1 · 43.1% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Grand Junction High School (1,832 students)
Grand Mesa Middle School held near 525 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 37.3 → 30.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Grand Mesa 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 476
Grand Mesa Middle School
476 students
What this shows Grand Mesa Middle School reports 476 students on the CCD universe file.
How Grand Mesa Middle School compares
Grand Mesa Middle 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 | 12.9:1 | ▼ 22% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 43.1% | ▲ 12% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 476 | top 32% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.9:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
476
Bigger than 59% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
43.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% 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
12.9:1
students per teacher
- 22% below state mean
Top 23% in Colorado - lower ratio than 77% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
72.3%
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 239 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
103
in-school suspensions + 153 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 21.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 53.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 57.1%
Hispanic or Latino 36.3%
Two or More 3.4%
Asian 1.9%
African American 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 57.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.1, Grand Mesa Middle School is more 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 Grand Mesa Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Junction High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fruita Monument High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Palisade High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fruita 8/9 School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Grand Mesa 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 (~476 students)
Frequently asked questions about Grand Mesa Middle School
How many students attend Grand Mesa Middle School?
Grand Mesa Middle School has 476 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Grand Junction, CO. CCD year-over-year: 511 (2022-23) → 525 (2023-24), nearly flat (+14).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Grand Mesa Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Grand Mesa Middle School is 12.9:1, which is 22% lower than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 18% 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 Grand Mesa Middle School?
43.1% of students at Grand Mesa Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Grand Mesa Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Grand Mesa Middle School is White at 57.1% of enrollment, in Grand Junction, CO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Grand Mesa Middle School?
Grand Mesa Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Grand Mesa Middle School rank among middle schools in Grand Junction?
By Resource Investment Index, Grand Mesa Middle School ranks #1 of 6 middle 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 middle schools in Grand Junction on the city page.
What other schools are in Mesa County Valley School District No. 51?
Besides Grand Mesa 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.