- Enrollment
- 1,832
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Grand Junction, CO
West Middle School
Federal NCES profile for West Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 080435000629
👥 S:T ratio 11
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 37
📋 Attendance 48
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Middle School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Colorado schools.
- #2 of 6
- middle schools in Grand Junction · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 22.3:1
- large classes for Colorado
- 26.3%
- free-lunch eligible
West Middle School has class sizes larger than 93% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Middle School ranks #2 of 6 middle schools in Grand Junction, CO.
School address
District: Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 · Colorado
NCES ID 080435000629 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+144 students YoY
West Middle School grew from 316 students in 2022-23 to 460 in 2023-24 (+45.6%).
Teacher FTE added 21.1 → 28.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+144 students YoY 080435000629 · Grand Junction, CO Middle · SMALL · TRAD
468 enr · 22.3:1 · 26.3% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Grand Junction High School (1,832 students)
West Middle School grew from 316 students in 2022-23 to 460 in 2023-24 (+45.6%). Teacher FTE added 21.1 → 28.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
West 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 468
West Middle School
468 students
What this shows West Middle School reports 468 students on the CCD universe file.
How West Middle School compares
West 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 | 22.3:1 | ▲ 34% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.3% | ▼ 32% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 468 | top 33% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.3:1
Leaner classes than 10% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
468
Bigger than 57% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
26.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 32% below the Colorado average of 38.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
22.3:1
students per teacher
- 34% above state mean
Top 93% in Colorado - lower ratio than 7% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
20.7%
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
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 314 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
64
in-school suspensions + 43 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 13.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 22.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 66.9%
Hispanic or Latino 23.9%
Two or More 5.1%
Asian 1.5%
African American 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.3%
Largest group: White at 66.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 49.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 49.2, West Middle School is more 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 West Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Junction High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar 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 | Lower S:T ratio |
| Fruita 8/9 School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West 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 (~468 students)
Frequently asked questions about West Middle School
How many students attend West Middle School?
West Middle School has 468 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Grand Junction, CO. CCD year-over-year: 316 (2022-23) → 460 (2023-24), up 144.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at West Middle School is 22.3:1, which is 34% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 42% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at West Middle School?
26.3% of students at West Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Middle School?
The largest demographic group at West Middle School is White at 66.9% of enrollment, in Grand Junction, CO.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Middle School?
West Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 West Middle School rank among middle schools in Grand Junction?
By Resource Investment Index, West Middle School ranks #2 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 West 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.