- Enrollment
- 1,832
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Grand Junction, CO
Orchard Mesa Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Orchard Mesa Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 080435000619
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 44
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Orchard Mesa Middle School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 85% of Colorado schools.
- #6 of 6
- middle schools in Grand Junction · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20:1
- large classes for Colorado
- 42.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Orchard Mesa Middle School has class sizes larger than 85% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Orchard Mesa Middle School ranks #6 of 6 middle schools in Grand Junction, CO.
School address
District: Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 · Colorado
NCES ID 080435000619 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+116 students YoY
Orchard Mesa Middle School grew from 465 students in 2022-23 to 581 in 2023-24 (+24.9%).
Teacher FTE added 28.0 → 33.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+116 students YoY 080435000619 · Grand Junction, CO Middle · MID · TRAD
560 enr · 20:1 · 42.6% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Grand Junction High School (1,832 students)
Orchard Mesa Middle School grew from 465 students in 2022-23 to 581 in 2023-24 (+24.9%). Teacher FTE added 28.0 → 33.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Orchard Mesa Middle 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 560
Orchard Mesa Middle School
560 students
What this shows Orchard Mesa Middle School reports 560 students on the CCD universe file.
How Orchard Mesa Middle School compares
Orchard Mesa Middle School is a growing 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 | 20:1 | ▲ 20% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 42.6% | ▲ 11% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 560 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
560
Bigger than 69% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
42.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 11% 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
20:1
students per teacher
- 20% above state mean
Top 85% in Colorado - lower ratio than 15% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
41.8%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 281 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
97
in-school suspensions + 92 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 17.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 33.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 69.5%
Hispanic or Latino 24.8%
Two or More 5.0%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 69.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 45.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 45.3, Orchard Mesa Middle School is about as mixed as 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 Mesa Middle 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 | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Palisade High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Fruita 8/9 School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Orchard Mesa Middle 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 middle 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 (~560 students)
Frequently asked questions about Orchard Mesa Middle School
How many students attend Orchard Mesa Middle School?
Orchard Mesa Middle School has 560 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Grand Junction, CO. CCD year-over-year: 465 (2022-23) → 581 (2023-24), up 116.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Orchard Mesa Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Orchard Mesa Middle School is 20:1, which is 20% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 27% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Orchard Mesa Middle School?
42.6% of students at Orchard Mesa Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Orchard Mesa Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Orchard Mesa Middle School is White at 69.5% of enrollment, in Grand Junction, CO.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Orchard Mesa Middle School?
Orchard Mesa Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (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 Mesa Middle School rank among middle schools in Grand Junction?
By Resource Investment Index, Orchard Mesa Middle School ranks #6 of 6 middle 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 middle schools in Grand Junction on the city page.
What other schools are in Mesa County Valley School District No. 51?
Besides Orchard Mesa Middle 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.