- Enrollment
- 1,832
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Grand Junction, CO
Independence Academy
Federal NCES profile for Independence Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 080435001980Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 58
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Independence Academy earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Colorado median.
- #8 of 21
- schools in Grand Junction · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.5:1
- students per teacher
- 14.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Independence Academy has class sizes near the Colorado median. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Independence Academy ranks #8 of 21 schools in Grand Junction, CO.
School address
District: Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 · Colorado
NCES ID 080435001980 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+2 students YoY
Independence Academy held near 487 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 28.4 → 30.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+2 students YoY 080435001980 · Grand Junction, CO Other · SMALL · CHARTER
491 enr · 17.5:1 · 14.4% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Grand Junction High School (1,832 students)
Independence Academy held near 487 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount). Teacher FTE added 28.4 → 30.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Independence Academy 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 491
Independence Academy
491 students
What this shows Independence Academy reports 491 students on the CCD universe file.
How Independence Academy compares
Independence Academy 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 | 17.5:1 | ▲ 5% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 14.4% | ▼ 63% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 491 | top 30% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.5:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
491
Bigger than 60% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
14.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 63% 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
17.5:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 67% in Colorado - lower ratio than 33% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
16.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
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
Counselors0.9 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 8 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 84.3%
Hispanic or Latino 12.2%
Two or More 2.4%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 84.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 27.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 27.4, Independence Academy 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 Independence Academy 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 Independence Academy'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 (~491 students)
Frequently asked questions about Independence Academy
How many students attend Independence Academy?
Independence Academy has 491 students enrolled. It is a public school in Grand Junction, CO. CCD year-over-year: 485 (2022-23) → 487 (2023-24), nearly flat (+2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Independence Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Independence Academy is 17.5:1, which is 5% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 11% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Independence Academy?
14.4% of students at Independence Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Independence Academy?
The largest demographic group at Independence Academy is White at 84.3% of enrollment, in Grand Junction, CO.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Independence Academy?
Independence Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 Independence Academy rank among schools in Grand Junction?
By Resource Investment Index, Independence Academy ranks #8 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 Independence Academy, 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.