Skip to main content

Average

#926 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

6.2

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Colorado schools

#926 of 1,815

In Durango

#11 of 14

public schools

In district

#9 of 13

Durango School District No. 9-R

School environment

7.4 / 10

Very Good

School shortlistprofile + nearby

Shortlisting around Florida Mesa Elementary School?

Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Florida Mesa Elementary School

6.2/10

Elementary School in Durango · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Escalante Middle School

6.5/10

3.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

The Juniper School

8.6/10

4.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Florida Mesa Elementary School

Florida Mesa Elementary School is a public elementary school in Durango, CO, part of Durango School District No. 9-R. Florida Mesa Elementary School serves approximately 286 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Florida Mesa Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 out of 10 and ranks #926 of 1,815 schools in CO.

Structured state assessment records for Florida Mesa Elementary School show 38% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 6.2 · Average
  • District avg 6.5
  • CO avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

Florida Mesa Elementary School sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

48% of students at Florida Mesa Elementary School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.0Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-3.56 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics5.6Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency28.8% (2025 CMAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency34.5% (2025 CMAS)
Math vs. State Avg-7.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-10.4 pts
Overall Proficiency32% (2025 CMAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)37% (model expectation from 2025 CMAS)
vs. Expected-5.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile38th
Resources & Environment7.4Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,729
Chronic Absenteeism47.9%

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 37.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
39.5% (2025 CMAS)
ELA Proficiency 44.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
44.9% (2025 CMAS)

Based on 35 test records from CO state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
87%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
82%
ELA
92%
2011
Math
52%
ELA
57%
2012
Math
57%
ELA
57%
2013
Math
62%
ELA
67%
2014
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2015
Math
32%
ELA
37%
2016
Math
22%
ELA
37%
2017
Math
12%
ELA
27%
2018
Math
27%
ELA
42%
2019
Math
27%
ELA
42%
2020*
Math
24.5%
ELA
27%
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: 6.0/10.

How Florida Mesa Elementary School Compares

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

Overall Score
6.2/10
49th percentile in CO
Academic
5.6/10
Average
Growth
6.0/10
Average
Environment
7.4/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
50%
Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
25 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
47.9%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

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. The Juniper School (rated 8.6/10, 4.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Park Elementary School (rated 8.4/10, 5.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Riverview Elementary School (rated 7.6/10, 6.1 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 6.5
The Juniper School Durango 4.6 mi 8.6
Park Elementary School Durango 5.2 mi 8.4
DURANGO MONTESSORI SCHOOL Durango 5.8 mi 5.3
Riverview Elementary School Durango 6.1 mi 7.6
ST COLUMBA SCHOOL Durango 5.9 mi 5.8
Durango High School Durango 6.1 mi 7.8
Southwest Colorado eSchool Durango 5.9 mi 7.5
CHILDREN'S HOUSE OF DURANGO Durango 6.1 mi
Needham Elementary School Durango 6.4 mi 6.2
Mountain Middle School Durango 6.6 mi 8.5
Miller Middle School Durango 6.6 mi 6.4
Durango Big Picture High School Durango 6.3 mi 7.4
Colorado Connections Academy @ Durango Englewood 6.3 mi 6.8
THE LIBERTY SCHOOL Durango 7.1 mi 5.9
Sunnyside Elementary School Durango 8.1 mi 4.2
Animas High School Durango 7.4 mi 7.2
Animas Valley Elementary School Durango 12.4 mi 4.8
SOUTHERN UTE INDIAN MONTESSORI ACADEMY Ignacio 11.0 mi
Ignacio Middle School Ignacio 11.4 mi 6.9

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

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN SCHOOL Lakewood, CO 6.2
Centennial Academy of Fine Arts Education Littleton, CO 6.2
Colfax Elementary School Denver, CO 6.2
Green Gables Elementary School Lakewood, CO 6.2
Irving Elementary School Pueblo, CO 6.2
King Elementary School Colorado Springs, CO 6.2

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 ranks #926 of 1,815 schools in CO.

What is Florida Mesa Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Florida Mesa Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Florida Mesa Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Florida Mesa Elementary School has 38% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

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

Walk Score
24 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
30 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

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
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
47.9%

District

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

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.