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#931 of 1,815 schools in CO

Florida Mesa Elementary School

Elementary School · Durango School District No. 9-R

216 HIGHWAY 172, Durango, CO 81303

Enrollment

286

Student-Teacher

11.4:1

Score

6.3

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Durango

#12 of 14

public schools

Colorado elementary schools

#579 of 1,006

In district

#10 of 13

Durango School District No. 9-R

School environment

8.6 / 10

Exceptional

About Florida Mesa Elementary School

Florida Mesa Elementary School is a regular public elementary school located in the rural area of Durango, Colorado. Serving preschool through fifth grade, the school has an enrollment of 286 students and maintains a supportive student-to-teacher ratio of 11.4:1 with 25 full-time equivalent teachers on staff. Florida Mesa Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating is 5.4 out of 10, placing it at the 49th percentile among Colorado schools, ranked #937 out of 1831 schools in the state.

The school focuses on student development with a significant portion of its students still working towards proficiency in both English Language Arts and Math—34% are proficient or above in reading and 27% in math. Set amidst a rural setting, Florida Mesa Elementary School benefits from a close-knit community where parents and teachers work together to support the educational journey of each child.

What Parents Should Know

Located in a rural area, Florida Mesa Elementary School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.9Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data4
Annual Change-0.47 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendStable
Academics5.6Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency28.8%
Reading/ELA Proficiency34.5%
Math vs. State Avg-7.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-10.4 pts
Overall Proficiency32%
Expected (poverty-adj.)37%
vs. Expected-5.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile38th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment8.6Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,863

Florida Mesa Elementary School — Students at Florida Mesa Elementary School score 32% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 37%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

50.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CO CMAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 27.4%
School
State
39.5%
ELA Proficiency 34.2%
School
State
44.9%

Based on 13 test records from CO state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
27%
ELA
42%
2021*
Math
24.5%
ELA
27%
2022
Math
32%
2025
Math
27.1%
ELA
34.1%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 5.9/10.

How Florida Mesa Elementary School Compares

See how Florida Mesa Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.3/10
49th percentile in CO
Academic
5.6/10
5.6/10
Growth
5.9/10
Above average
Environment
8.6/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
50%
Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
25 teachers

Location

216 HIGHWAY 172, Durango, CO 81303

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Florida Mesa Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Riverview Elementary School (rated 9.1/10, 6.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Park Elementary School (rated 9.0/10, 5.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, The Juniper School (rated 8.4/10, 4.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Durango, see our Durango schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 11.4 mi
School Distance Rating
Escalante Middle School Durango 3.8 mi 7.3
The Juniper School Durango 4.6 mi 8.4
Park Elementary School Durango 5.2 mi 9.0
DURANGO MONTESSORI SCHOOL Durango 5.8 mi 5.3
Riverview Elementary School Durango 6.1 mi 9.1
ST COLUMBA SCHOOL Durango 5.9 mi 5.8
Durango High School Durango 6.1 mi 7.6
Southwest Colorado eSchool Durango 5.9 mi 6.8
CHILDREN'S HOUSE OF DURANGO Durango 6.1 mi
Needham Elementary School Durango 6.4 mi 8.2
Mountain Middle School Durango 6.6 mi 7.4
Miller Middle School Durango 6.6 mi 7.2
Durango Big Picture High School Durango 6.3 mi 8.4
Colorado Connections Academy @ Durango Englewood 6.3 mi 5.4
THE LIBERTY SCHOOL Durango 7.1 mi 5.9
Sunnyside Elementary School Durango 8.1 mi 6.0
Animas High School Durango 7.4 mi 6.7
Animas Valley Elementary School Durango 12.4 mi 4.0
SOUTHERN UTE INDIAN MONTESSORI ACADEMY Ignacio 11.0 mi
Ignacio Middle School Ignacio 11.4 mi 7.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 81303 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$94,565

Median Home Value

$535,800

Median Rent

$1,424/mo

Population

9,696

College Educated

34.8%

Homeownership

71.9%

Avg Commute

21.8 min

Poverty Rate

11.2%

Median Age

39.9

Community Profile

The community surrounding Florida Mesa Elementary School has a median household income of $94,565. It is an area where 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $535,800, with a median rent of $1,424/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.2%. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Falcon Elementary School of Technology Falcon, CO 6.3
Fremont Elementary School Arvada, CO 6.3
Gateway Elementary School Woodland Park, CO 6.3
HILLEL ACADEMY Denver, CO 6.3
Henry Elementary School Colorado Springs, CO 6.3
Heritage Elementary School Pueblo, CO 6.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Florida Mesa Elementary School

What grades does Florida Mesa Elementary School serve?

Florida Mesa Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Florida Mesa Elementary School?

Florida Mesa Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 286 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Florida Mesa Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Florida Mesa Elementary School is 11.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Florida Mesa Elementary School rank in CO?

Florida Mesa Elementary School is ranked #931 out of 1,815 schools in CO.

What is Florida Mesa Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Florida Mesa Elementary School has a composite rating of 6.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Florida Mesa Elementary School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Florida Mesa Elementary School has 27.4% math proficiency and 34.2% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Florida Mesa Elementary School a charter school?

No, Florida Mesa Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Florida Mesa Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Florida Mesa Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Florida Mesa Elementary School?

50.3% of students at Florida Mesa Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

County Safety
Average (283/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
286
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
25
Free/Reduced Lunch
50.3%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
La Plata County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Durango School District No. 9-R
District Enrollment
5,146
Schools in District
13
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,729
District Rank
#10 of 13

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

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