- Enrollment
- 598
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Cortez, CO
Mesa Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Mesa Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 080309000839
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mesa Elementary School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Colorado schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Colorado schools.
- #4 of 5
- elementary schools in Cortez · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.9:1
- large classes for Colorado
- 74.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Mesa Elementary School has class sizes larger than 71% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mesa Elementary School ranks #4 of 5 elementary schools in Cortez, CO.
School address
District: Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 · Colorado
NCES ID 080309000839 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+9 students YoY
Mesa Elementary School held near 409 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+9 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 20.4 → 25.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+9 students YoY 080309000839 · Cortez, CO Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
359 enr · 17.9:1 · 74.8% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Montezuma-Cortez High School (598 students)
Mesa Elementary School held near 409 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+9 headcount). Teacher FTE added 20.4 → 25.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Mesa Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Montezuma-Cort
Montezuma-Cortez High School
598 students
- Montezuma-Cort
Montezuma-Cortez Middle School
505 students
- This school
Mesa Elementary School
359 students
- Kemper Element
Kemper Elementary School
339 students
- Southwest Open 131
Southwest Open Charter School
131 students
- Children's Kiv 130
Children's Kiva Montessori School
130 students
What this shows Mesa Elementary School reports 359 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mesa Elementary School compares
Mesa 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 | 17.9:1 | ▲ 8% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 74.8% | ▲ 94% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 359 | top 50% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.9:1
Leaner classes than 25% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
359
Bigger than 41% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
74.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 94% above the Colorado average of 38.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.9:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 71% in Colorado - lower ratio than 29% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
41.5%
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
$13,684
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 349 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 7 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
American Indian / Alaska Native 37.3%
White 29.0%
Hispanic or Latino 22.8%
Two or More 9.7%
Asian 0.8%
African American 0.3%
Largest group: American Indian / Alaska Native at 37.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.5, Mesa Elementary School is more mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 reports $13,684 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Mesa Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montezuma-Cortez High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Montezuma-Cortez Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Kemper Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Southwest Open Charter School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Children's Kiva Montessori School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mesa Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 505
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 339
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 131
- Students per teacher
- 11.9:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 130
- Students per teacher
- 10.8:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Nationwide elementary 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 (~359 students)
Frequently asked questions about Mesa Elementary School
How many students attend Mesa Elementary School?
Mesa Elementary School has 359 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Cortez, CO. CCD year-over-year: 400 (2022-23) → 409 (2023-24), nearly flat (+9).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mesa Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Mesa Elementary School is 17.9:1, which is 8% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 14% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mesa Elementary School?
74.8% of students at Mesa Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mesa Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Mesa Elementary School is American Indian / Alaska Native at 37.3% of enrollment, in Cortez, CO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mesa Elementary School?
Mesa Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 Mesa Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Cortez?
By Resource Investment Index, Mesa Elementary School ranks #4 of 5 elementary schools in Cortez, CO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Cortez on the city page.
What other schools are in Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1?
Besides Mesa Elementary School, Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 also operates Montezuma-Cortez High School (598 students), Montezuma-Cortez Middle School (505 students), and Kemper Elementary School (339 students). See the Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 district page for the complete list.