Enrollment
505
Colorado · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Cortez, CO
Montezuma-Cortez Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Montezuma-Cortez Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 080309000833
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 73
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Montezuma-Cortez Middle School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Colorado median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Colorado schools.
- #4 of 9
- public schools in Cortez · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.8:1
- students per teacher
- 58.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Montezuma-Cortez Middle School has class sizes near the Colorado median. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Montezuma-Cortez Middle School ranks #4 of 9 public schools in Cortez, CO.
School address
District: Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 · Colorado
NCES ID 080309000833 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
32.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.8:1
vs 16.6:1 Colorado avg
-5% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
58.0%
vs 38.5% Colorado avg
+51% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Montezuma-Cortez Middle School compares with Colorado and U.S. medians
What stands out at Montezuma-Cortez Middle School
Montezuma-Cortez Middle School is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Cortez, Colorado, enrolling 505 students.
At 15.8:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Colorado median, within a few percentage points of the 16.6:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 58.0% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 505 puts it in the larger third of Colorado schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,922 scored Colorado schools.
Against 259 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #91.
Its student body is led by White (40%) and American Indian / Alaska Native (29%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 70/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 136 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 52.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 spends $11,473 per pupil, 29% below the Colorado average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 15.9% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 5 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 also operates Montezuma-Cortez High School (598 students) and Mesa Elementary School (359 students) alongside Montezuma-Cortez Middle School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Montezuma-Cortez Middle School compares
Montezuma-Cortez Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Colorado and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Colorado | Colorado avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.8:1 | ▼ 5% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 58.0% | ▲ 51% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 505 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.8:1
Leaner classes than 40% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
505
Bigger than 62% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
58.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 51% 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
15.8:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 51% in Colorado - lower ratio than 49% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
52.5%
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
$11,473
per pupil, district-wide
- below Colorado avg of $16,273
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.7 FTE
Per 136 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 68 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 5 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 40.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 28.9%
Hispanic or Latino 22.4%
Two or More 7.9%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: White at 40.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.7, Montezuma-Cortez Middle School is more mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1, which includes Montezuma-Cortez Middle School.
$11,473
Per student
-29%
vs Colorado
Avg $16,273
-31%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 42.2%
State 42.0%
Federal 15.9%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Montezuma-Cortez Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montezuma-Cortez High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mesa Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kemper Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southwest Open Charter School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Children's Kiva Montessori School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Montezuma-Cortez Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 598
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 359
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- 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
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Colorado, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~505 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Montezuma-Cortez Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Montezuma-Cortez Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Montezuma-Cortez Middle School
How many students attend Montezuma-Cortez Middle School?
Montezuma-Cortez Middle School has 505 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Cortez, CO.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Montezuma-Cortez Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Montezuma-Cortez Middle School is 15.8:1, which is 5% lower than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 1% higher 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 Montezuma-Cortez Middle School?
58.0% of students at Montezuma-Cortez Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Montezuma-Cortez Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Montezuma-Cortez Middle School is White at 40.4% of enrollment, in Cortez, CO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Montezuma-Cortez Middle School?
Montezuma-Cortez Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Montezuma-Cortez Middle School rank among public schools in Cortez?
By Resource Investment Index, Montezuma-Cortez Middle School ranks #4 of 9 public 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 public schools in Cortez on the city page.
Is Montezuma-Cortez Middle School a good school?
Montezuma-Cortez Middle School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Colorado median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Colorado schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1?
Besides Montezuma-Cortez Middle School, Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 also operates Montezuma-Cortez High School (598 students), Mesa Elementary School (359 students), and Kemper Elementary School (339 students). See the Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.