Total enrollment
21,641
-1,936 (-8%) vs SY 2017-18
Mesa County
Colorado · Public K-12
Mesa County's public-school footprint spans 57 K-12 campuses with combined enrollment of about 22,232, the largest district being Mesa County Valley School District No. 51. The level mix is 31 elementary, 8 middle, and 10 high schools.
7-year change in Mesa County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
53
+1 (+2%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
70%
was 71%
% Hispanic
24%
was 23%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
57
5 districts
Enrollment
22,232
NCES CCD
Median income
$73,658
Below Colorado avg
Free/reduced lunch
52.6%
Above Colorado avg
Elementary
31
9,493 students
Middle
8
3,961 students
High
10
6,207 students
Combined / other
8
2,571 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Mesa County Valley School District No. 51
20,344 students · 5 districts in Mesa County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Mesa County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
32.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.4%
civilian labor
Median age
41
20.4% under 18
Test scores in Mesa County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 39 schools ranked. Colorado state average: 44.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Wingate Elementary School· 80.6%
- Broadway Elementary School· 64.7%
- Appleton Elementary School· 63.6%
- New Emerson School at Columbus· 63.1%
- Redlands Middle School· 62.9%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Clifton Elementary School· 14.8%
- De Beque PK-12 School District 49JT· 14.9%
- Nisley Elementary School· 20.0%
- Bookcliff Middle School· 21.4%
- Grand River Academy· 23.9%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Junction High School | Grand Junction | High | 09-12 | 1,832 | · |
| Fruita Monument High School | Fruita | High | 09-12 | 1,427 | · |
| Central High School | Grand Junction | High | 09-12 | 1,352 | · |
| Palisade High School | Palisade | High | 09-12 | 1,073 | · |
| Caprock Academy | Grand Junction | Combined | KG-12 | 871 | · |
| Fruita Middle School | Fruita | Middle | 06-08 | 690 | · |
| Redlands Middle School | Grand Junction | Middle | 06-08 | 632 | · |
| Fruita 8/9 School | Fruita | Combined | 08-09 | 591 | · |
| Mount Garfield Middle School | Clifton | Middle | 06-08 | 569 | · |
| Orchard Mesa Middle School | Grand Junction | Middle | 06-08 | 560 | · |
| Bookcliff Middle School | Grand Junction | Middle | 06-08 | 525 | · |
| Independence Academy | Grand Junction | Elementary | PK-08 | 491 | · |
| Grand Mesa Middle School | Grand Junction | Middle | 06-08 | 476 | · |
| West Middle School | Grand Junction | Middle | 06-08 | 468 | · |
| Grand River Academy | Grand Junction | Combined | KG-12 | 461 | · |
| Ascent Classical Academy of Grand Junction | Grand Junction | Combined | KG-09 | 457 | · |
| Appleton Elementary School | Grand Junction | Elementary | PK-05 | 439 | · |
| Thunder Mountain Elementary School | Grand Junction | Elementary | PK-05 | 432 | · |
| Pear Park Elementary School | Grand Junction | Elementary | PK-05 | 428 | · |
| Pomona Elementary School | Grand Junction | Elementary | PK-05 | 395 | · |
| Rocky Mountain Elementary School | Clifton | Elementary | PK-05 | 395 | · |
| Juniper Ridge Community School | Grand Junction | Elementary | KG-08 | 375 | · |
| Mesa View Elementary School | Grand Junction | Elementary | PK-05 | 375 | · |
| Chatfield Elementary School | Grand Junction | Elementary | PK-05 | 371 | · |
| Shelledy Elementary School | Fruita | Elementary | PK-05 | 371 | · |
| Tope Elementary School | Grand Junction | Elementary | PK-05 | 370 | · |
| Chipeta Elementary School | Grand Junction | Elementary | PK-05 | 364 | · |
| Wingate Elementary School | Grand Junction | Elementary | PK-05 | 363 | · |
| Fruitvale Elementary School | Grand Junction | Elementary | PK-05 | 358 | · |
| Clifton Elementary School | Clifton | Elementary | PK-05 | 346 | · |
| Nisley Elementary School | Grand Junction | Elementary | PK-05 | 346 | · |
| Orchard Avenue Elementary School | Grand Junction | Elementary | PK-05 | 319 | · |
| Dual Immersion Academy School | Grand Junction | Elementary | PK-05 | 310 | · |
| Taylor Elementary School | Palisade | Elementary | PK-05 | 310 | · |
| Broadway Elementary School | Grand Junction | Elementary | PK-05 | 300 | · |
| Monument Ridge Elementary School | Fruita | Elementary | PK-05 | 300 | · |
| Dos Rios Elementary School | Grand Junction | Elementary | PK-05 | 293 | · |
| Rim Rock Elementary School | Fruita | Elementary | PK-05 | 292 | · |
| Lincoln Orchard Mesa Elementary School | Grand Junction | Elementary | PK-05 | 289 | · |
| Scenic Elementary School | Grand Junction | Elementary | KG-05 | 243 | · |
| Loma Elementary School | Loma | Elementary | PK-05 | 207 | · |
| R-5 High School | Grand Junction | High | 09-12 | 207 | · |
| De Beque PK-12 School District 49JT | De Beque | Combined | PK-12 | 179 | · |
| Mesa Valley Community School | Grand Junction | High | 06-12 | 178 | · |
| Plateau Valley Elementary School | Collbran | Elementary | PK-06 | 142 | · |
| New Emerson School at Columbus | Grand Junction | Elementary | KG-05 | 138 | · |
| Plateau Valley High School | Collbran | High | 09-12 | 65 | · |
| Grand Mesa High School | Collbran | High | 09-12 | 55 | · |
| Career Center Preschool | Grand Junction | Elementary | PK-PK | 53 | · |
| Plateau Valley Junior High School | Collbran | Middle | 07-08 | 41 | · |
| Wildflower Montessori Public School of Colorado Grand Valley | Grand Junction | Elementary | PK-03 | 40 | · |
| Monument View Montessori Charter School | Fruita | Elementary | PK-03 | 38 | · |
| Grand Mesa Youth Services Center | Grand Junction | High | 05-12 | 18 | · |
| Gateway School | Gateway | Combined | PK-12 | 12 | · |
| East Middle School | Grand Junction | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| Grand Mesa Youth Services Center | Grand Junction | High | 05-12 | · | · |
| Lincoln Park Preschool | Grand Junction | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Mesa County
About Mesa County
In Colorado, Mesa County is a middle-population county of about 158,601 residents. 57 public schools across the county hosts about 22,232 students between them.
For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $73,658 a year, about 32% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 7%. That income level is 5% noticeably below the Colorado median.
In terms of grade levels, Mesa County consists of 31 elementary schools (9,493 students), 8 middle schools (3,961), 10 high schools (6,207), and 8 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Mesa County is Mesa County Valley School District No. 51, which alone enrolls about 20,344 students.
Trend over the past 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment declined 8%: 23,577 students in SY 2017-18 versus 21,641 in SY 2024-25. The school count climbed from 52 to 53 across the same 7-year window.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Mesa County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
Mesa County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data