6.6 avg / 10

Best Schools in Grand Junction, Colorado

40 schools · 24 Elementary · 5 Middle · 5 High · 6 Other

Last updated: May 2026

Public: 33

Private: 7

Districts: 2

Avg Rating: 6.6/10

Estimated Scores: 18%

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 6.6/10
Median household income: $76,378
Median home value: $372,883
Bachelor's degree or higher: 35%
Avg commute: 18 min
Owner-occupied homes: 71%

How Grand Junction compares

Colorado rank

#46 of 125

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

+0.3

above Colorado avg (6.3)

Median household income

$76k

88% of Colorado median

Schools in this city

38

About Schools in Grand Junction, Colorado

Grand Junction's public school landscape spans 32 ranked schools, with an average score of 6.8 out of 10. That average reflects genuine breadth at the top: 18 of those 32 schools — 56% — score 7 or higher, meaning a clear majority of campuses here clear the bar most parents set as a minimum.

The rankings skew heavily toward elementary schools at the top. Wingate Elementary leads the city at 9.2 out of 10, the highest score among all 32 ranked schools. Broadway Elementary and Scenic Elementary both land at 9.1, putting three elite elementary options within reach across the same metro. Chatfield Elementary (8.2) gives families a fourth strong choice at the elementary level. At the middle school level, Redlands Middle School scores 8.6 — the city's top-ranked middle school and a result that would place it near the top even against elementary competition.

For parents with children in elementary school, the depth here is real. Three schools above 9.0 is unusual for a city this size and signals that top-tier options aren't concentrated in a single corner of town. The middle school tier is thinner at the high end, with Redlands as the clear outlier. Families planning for the full K–8 arc should research attendance zones and feeder patterns between the top elementary schools and Redlands early.

The bottom line: Grand Junction isn't a city where you roll the dice on school quality. With 56% of schools scoring 7 or above and a city-high score of 9.2 at Wingate, the upper half of the market is genuinely strong. The 1.4-point gap between the top school and the city average reflects a high ceiling, not a cratered floor. Parents who do their zone research will find solid options across most of the city.

Filter by Level: All Levels (40) Elementary (24) Middle (5) High (5)

Filter by Type: All Types (40) Public (33) Private (7)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (40) Academics (40) Growth (31) Diversity (31) Resources (32)

Filter by ZIP: 81501 (11) 81504 (11) 81503 (6) 81505 (6) 81507 (3) 81506 (2)

Elementary Schools

24 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Wingate Elementary School 392 students · Pre-K–5th	392	Pre-K–5th	8.8
2	Scenic Elementary School 215 students · Kindergarten–5th	215	Kindergarten–5th	8.7
3	Broadway Elementary School 289 students · Pre-K–5th	289	Pre-K–5th	8.6
4	Chatfield Elementary School 372 students · Pre-K–5th	372	Pre-K–5th	8.4
5	Fruitvale Elementary School 376 students · Pre-K–5th	376	Pre-K–5th	8.3
6	Orchard Avenue Elementary School 306 students · Pre-K–5th	306	Pre-K–5th	8.3
7	Mesa View Elementary School 364 students · Pre-K–5th	364	Pre-K–5th	8.3
8	Chipeta Elementary School 363 students · Pre-K–5th	363	Pre-K–5th	8.3
9	Pomona Elementary School 393 students · Pre-K–5th	393	Pre-K–5th	8.2
10	Dos Rios Elementary School 285 students · Pre-K–5th	285	Pre-K–5th	7.9
11	Appleton Elementary School 447 students · Pre-K–5th	447	Pre-K–5th	7.8
12	Lincoln Orchard Mesa Elementary School 316 students · Pre-K–5th	316	Pre-K–5th	7.6
13	Tope Elementary School 361 students · Pre-K–5th	361	Pre-K–5th	7.1
14	Juniper Ridge Community School 392 students · Kindergarten–8th	392	Kindergarten–8th	6.8
15	Nisley Elementary School 350 students · Pre-K–5th	350	Pre-K–5th	6.3
16	Thunder Mountain Elementary School 441 students · Pre-K–5th	441	Pre-K–5th	6.1
17	Dual Immersion Academy School 303 students · Pre-K–5th	303	Pre-K–5th	5.6
18	New Emerson School at Columbus 140 students · Kindergarten–5th	140	Kindergarten–5th	5.5
19	Independence Academy 487 students · Pre-K–8th	487	Pre-K–8th	5.5
20	Pear Park Elementary School 437 students · Pre-K–5th	437	Pre-K–5th	4.0
Private Schools 4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL OF MESSIAH Private 55 students · Pre-K–8th	55	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
2	BOOKCLIFF CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Private 106 students · Pre-K–5th	106	Pre-K–5th	Not Rated
3	INTERMOUNTAIN ADVENTIST ACADEMY Private 38 students · Kindergarten–8th	38	Kindergarten–8th	Not Rated
4	HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC SCHOOL Private 423 students · Pre-K–8th	423	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated

Middle Schools

5 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Redlands Middle School 594 students · 6th–8th	594	6th–8th	7.9
2	Bookcliff Middle School 565 students · 6th–8th	565	6th–8th	7.4
3	Orchard Mesa Middle School 581 students · 6th–8th	581	6th–8th	7.4
4	West Middle School 460 students · 6th–8th	460	6th–8th	6.8
5	Grand Mesa Middle School 525 students · 6th–8th	525	6th–8th	4.9

High Schools

5 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Mesa Valley Community School 170 students · 6th–12th	170	6th–12th	6.2
2	Grand Junction High School 1,590 students · 9th–12th	1,590	9th–12th	4.8
3	R-5 High School 218 students · 9th–12th	218	9th–12th	4.8
4	Central High School 1,443 students · 9th–12th	1,443	9th–12th	4.3
5	Grand Mesa Youth Services Center 10 students · 5th–12th	10	5th–12th	—

Other Schools

6 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Career Center Preschool 31 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	31	Pre-K–Pre-K	5.3
2	Caprock Academy 895 students · Kindergarten–12th	895	Kindergarten–12th	5.2
3	Grand River Academy 516 students · Kindergarten–12th	516	Kindergarten–12th	4.8
Private Schools 3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	LIFE ACADEMY Private 85 students · Pre-K–12th	85	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated
2	LANDMARK BAPTIST SCHOOL Private 91 students · Kindergarten–12th	91	Kindergarten–12th	Not Rated
3	PEAR PARK BAPTIST SCHOOL Private 10 students · Pre-K–12th	10	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated

Schools in Grand Junction

Grand Junction, Colorado · 40 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 6 ZIP codes

Median Income

$76,378

Median Home Value

$372,883

Median Rent

$1,270/mo

Population

112,115

College Educated

35%

Homeownership

71%

Avg Commute

18 min

Poverty Rate

10.9%

Community Profile

Grand Junction has a median household income of $76,378. It is an area where 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $372,883, with a median rent of $1,270/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.9%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Quick Facts

State: Colorado
Total Schools: 40
Elementary: 24
Middle: 5
High: 5
Districts: 2
Avg Rating: 6.6/10

Resources

🔍 Google "Grand Junction schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Grand Junction 📊 Niche Grand Junction Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (2)

State Charter School Institute

44 schools · 19,593 students

Mesa County Valley School District No. 51

46 schools · 20,078 students

Nearby Cities

Parachute (3 schools)

36 mi

Other Major Cities in Colorado

Top metros statewide by school count.

Denver 277 schools Colorado Springs 197 schools Aurora 115 schools Lakewood 54 schools Fort Collins 53 schools

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Grand Junction, Colorado

How many schools are in Grand Junction, Colorado?

Grand Junction has 40 schools, including 33 public and 7 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Grand Junction, Colorado?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Grand Junction is 6.6 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

What is the top-ranked school in Grand Junction, Colorado?

The top-ranked school in Grand Junction on MySchoolScout is Wingate Elementary School with a composite score of 8.8/10.

What is the best elementary school in Grand Junction, Colorado?

The top-ranked elementary school in Grand Junction on MySchoolScout is Wingate Elementary School with a composite score of 8.8/10.

What is the best middle school in Grand Junction, Colorado?

The top-ranked middle school in Grand Junction on MySchoolScout is Redlands Middle School with a composite score of 7.9/10.

What is the best high school in Grand Junction, Colorado?

The top-ranked high school in Grand Junction on MySchoolScout is Mesa Valley Community School with a composite score of 6.2/10.

How many school districts serve Grand Junction, Colorado?

Grand Junction is served by 2 school districts: State Charter School Institute, Mesa County Valley School District No. 51.

What is the education level in Grand Junction, Colorado?

According to Census data, 35% of adults in Grand Junction have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Grand Junction, Colorado?

The median household income in Grand Junction is approximately $76,378 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Grand Junction, Colorado?

Yes, Grand Junction has 7 private schools alongside 33 public schools. The top-rated private school is Life Academy with a score of 6.6/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Grand Junction, Colorado?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Grand Junction is 15.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Grand Junction, Colorado?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.