- Enrollment
- 1,832
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Grand Junction, CO
Orchard Avenue Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Orchard Avenue Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 080435000618
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 33
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Orchard Avenue Elementary School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 74% of Colorado schools.
- #10 of 21
- schools in Grand Junction · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.3:1
- small classes for Colorado
- 46.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Orchard Avenue Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 74% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Orchard Avenue Elementary School ranks #10 of 21 schools in Grand Junction, CO.
School address
District: Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 · Colorado
NCES ID 080435000618 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-31 students YoY
Orchard Avenue Elementary School shrank from 337 students in 2022-23 to 306 in 2023-24 (-9.2%).
Teacher FTE lost 24.6 → 21.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-31 students YoY 080435000618 · Grand Junction, CO Other · SMALL · TRAD
319 enr · 13.3:1 · 46.9% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Grand Junction High School (1,832 students)
Orchard Avenue Elementary School shrank from 337 students in 2022-23 to 306 in 2023-24 (-9.2%). Teacher FTE lost 24.6 → 21.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Orchard Avenue Elementary 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 319
Orchard Avenue Elementary School
319 students
What this shows Orchard Avenue Elementary School reports 319 students on the CCD universe file.
How Orchard Avenue Elementary School compares
Orchard Avenue Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Colorado and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Colorado | Colorado avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.3:1 | ▼ 20% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 46.9% | ▲ 22% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 319 | top 58% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 64% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
319
Bigger than 35% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
46.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% 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
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 20% below state mean
Top 26% in Colorado - lower ratio than 74% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
43.9%
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
Counselors0.9 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
42
in-school suspensions + 28 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 13.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 74.6%
Hispanic or Latino 20.4%
Two or More 3.1%
Asian 1.3%
African American 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 74.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 40.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 40.1, Orchard Avenue Elementary School 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 Orchard Avenue Elementary 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 | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Palisade High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fruita 8/9 School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Orchard Avenue Elementary 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 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 (~319 students)
Frequently asked questions about Orchard Avenue Elementary School
How many students attend Orchard Avenue Elementary School?
Orchard Avenue Elementary School has 319 students enrolled. It is a public school in Grand Junction, CO. CCD year-over-year: 337 (2022-23) → 306 (2023-24), down 31.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Orchard Avenue Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Orchard Avenue Elementary School is 13.3:1, which is 20% lower than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 15% 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 Orchard Avenue Elementary School?
46.9% of students at Orchard Avenue Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Orchard Avenue Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Orchard Avenue Elementary School is White at 74.6% of enrollment, in Grand Junction, CO.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Orchard Avenue Elementary School?
Orchard Avenue Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (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 Orchard Avenue Elementary School rank among schools in Grand Junction?
By Resource Investment Index, Orchard Avenue Elementary School ranks #10 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 Orchard Avenue Elementary 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.