Appleton Elementary School

As a mid-tier elementary campus in GRAND JUNCTION, Colorado, Appleton Elementary School caters to 439 students from grades pre-K through 5, part of Mesa County Valley School District No. 51.

Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 runs 45 schools in total, collectively educating 20,344 students. Appleton Elementary School is one of those campuses.

Looking at the student body, Appleton Elementary School lists that nearly all students (84%) are White; the rest breaks down as 12% Hispanic, 2% multiracial. That composition is broadly in line with Mesa County as a whole.

Looking at the economic backdrop, Staff filings list 24 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 18.1:1 students per teacher. The state averages around 16.6:1, so this campus is higher than the state norm typical. An estimated 37% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. That share is lower than Mesa County's rate of about 53%.

On a residual basis (actual vs predicted given the student mix), Appleton Elementary School tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 44.1% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 54.1%.

Across the wider county, Mesa County reports that median household earnings sit near $73,658, roughly 32% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Across Mesa County's 57 public schools (combined enrollment of about 22,232 students), Appleton Elementary School is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Caprock Academy, roughly 1.3 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Appleton Elementary School at 4th of 7; the average score across the group is 50.9%.

The campus sits in an outer-ring setting.

Five-year trend. Over the past 7-year window, the student count changed only slightly: 442 students in 2018 compared to 439 in 2025. The White share of enrollment expanded from 75% to 84% over that span. Class-load math has pulled in: from 21.1:1 in 2018 to 18.1:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, recent activity here tends to focus on sports schedules, lunch menu changes, and school spirit week. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.