Average
#996 of 1,815 schools in CO
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School
Elementary School · Durango School District No. 9-r · Hesperus, CO
A Durango School District No. 9-r elementary school where students score 13 points above what's typical for similar communities.
11274 HIGHWAY 140, Hesperus, CO 81326
- Math 44% vs CO 36% (2025)
- Reading 50% vs CO 45% (2025)
- 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School score 47% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 34%).
2025 CMAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CO average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 30 points since 2020, reaching 47% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 54% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 29 test records from CO state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
55.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 3Car-Dependent
- Bike 26Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Average283/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$83,229
Median home value
$515,200
Median rent
$1,254/mo
College educated
41.9%
Homeownership
88.3%
Poverty rate
7.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 81326; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 in Durango School District No. 9-R
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Connections Academy @ DurangoEnrollment path unverified | 6.8 | K–12 | Not available | 752 | Compare → |
| Florida Mesa Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.2 | PK–5 | Not available | 286 | Compare → |
| Park Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.4 | PK–5 | Not available | 439 | Compare → |
| Riverview Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.6 | PK–5 | Not available | 413 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Durango School District No. 9-r
- Schools in district
- 13
- Rank in district
- #11 of 13
- District spending per student
- $14,729NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 8.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School is listed in Durango School District No. 9-R; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School is a public elementary school in Hesperus, CO, part of Durango School District No. 9-r, serving approximately 106 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.0 out of 10 and ranks #996 of 1,815 schools in CO. State assessment records show 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School
What grades does Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School serve?
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School?
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 106 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School is 10.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School rank in CO?
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School ranks #996 of 1,815 schools in CO.
What is Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.0 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 Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School has 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School a charter school?
No, Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School?
55.7% of students at Fort Lewis 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 106
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 10.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 10
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- La Plata County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 34.9%
- Phone
- (970) 588-3331
- Area population (ZIP 81326)
- 2,651
- Area average commute
- 33.8 min
- Area median age
- 51.8
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 CMAS · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 CMAS · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 81326; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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