- Enrollment
- 1,832
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Grand Junction, CO
New Emerson School at Columbus
Federal NCES profile for New Emerson School at Columbus, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 080435001552
👥 S:T ratio 31
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 43
📋 Attendance 66
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
New Emerson School at Columbus earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Colorado median.
- #1 of 4
- elementary schools in Grand Junction · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 17.3:1
- students per teacher
- 5.0%
- free-lunch eligible
New Emerson School at Columbus has class sizes near the Colorado median. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, New Emerson School at Columbus ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Grand Junction, CO.
School address
District: Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 · Colorado
NCES ID 080435001552 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+1 students YoY
New Emerson School at Columbus held near 140 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 8.6 → 9.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+1 students YoY 080435001552 · Grand Junction, CO Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
138 enr · 17.3:1 · 5.0% lunch · RII 52
Nearest enrollment peer: Grand Junction High School (1,832 students)
New Emerson School at Columbus held near 140 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount). Teacher FTE added 8.6 → 9.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
New Emerson School at Columbus 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 138
New Emerson School at Columbus
138 students
What this shows New Emerson School at Columbus reports 138 students on the CCD universe file.
How New Emerson School at Columbus compares
New Emerson School at Columbus 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 | 17.3:1 | ▲ 4% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 5.0% | ▼ 87% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 138 | top 84% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.3:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
138
Bigger than 13% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
5.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 87% below the Colorado average of 38.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.3:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 66% in Colorado - lower ratio than 34% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
13.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
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
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 82.6%
Hispanic or Latino 10.1%
Two or More 3.6%
Asian 2.2%
African American 1.4%
Largest group: White at 82.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 30.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 30.6, New Emerson School at Columbus 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 New Emerson School at Columbus 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 | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fruita 8/9 School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to New Emerson School at Columbus'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 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 (~138 students)
Frequently asked questions about New Emerson School at Columbus
How many students attend New Emerson School at Columbus?
New Emerson School at Columbus has 138 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Grand Junction, CO. CCD year-over-year: 139 (2022-23) → 140 (2023-24), nearly flat (+1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at New Emerson School at Columbus?
The student-teacher ratio at New Emerson School at Columbus is 17.3:1, which is 4% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 10% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at New Emerson School at Columbus?
5.0% of students at New Emerson School at Columbus are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of New Emerson School at Columbus?
The largest demographic group at New Emerson School at Columbus is White at 82.6% of enrollment, in Grand Junction, CO.
What is the Resource Investment Index for New Emerson School at Columbus?
New Emerson School at Columbus has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (higher 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 New Emerson School at Columbus rank among elementary schools in Grand Junction?
By Resource Investment Index, New Emerson School at Columbus ranks #1 of 4 elementary 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 elementary schools in Grand Junction on the city page.
What other schools are in Mesa County Valley School District No. 51?
Besides New Emerson School at Columbus, 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.