Needs Improvement
#1673 of 1,815 schools in CO
Graham Mesa Elementary School
Elementary School · Garfield School District No. Re-2 · Rifle, CO
A Garfield School District No. Re-2 elementary school where students score 20 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1575 FARMSTEAD PARKWAY, Rifle, CO 81650
- Math 22% vs CO 40% (2025)
- Reading 25% vs CO 45% (2025)
- 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Graham Mesa Elementary School score 23% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 44%).
2025 CMAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CO average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 68 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 24% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 34% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 46% (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 35 test records from CO state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
36.8%
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 Graham 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 5Car-Dependent
- Bike 25Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,310/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Rifle), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$81,506
Median home value
$397,100
Median rent
$1,236/mo
College educated
17.1%
Homeownership
75.9%
Poverty rate
7.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 81650; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.8 | PK–5 | 0.6 mi | 418 | Compare → |
| Wamsley Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.5 | PK–5 | 0.9 mi | 402 | Compare → |
| Cactus Valley Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.7 | PK–5 | Not available | 493 | Compare → |
| Elk Creek ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.0 | PK–5 | Not available | 266 | 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.
Garfield School District No. Re-2
- Schools in district
- 10
- Rank in district
- #9 of 10
- District spending per student
- $13,874NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 10.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Graham Mesa Elementary School is listed in Garfield School District No. Re-2; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Graham Mesa Elementary School
Graham Mesa Elementary School is a public elementary school in Rifle, CO, part of Garfield School District No. Re-2, serving approximately 427 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.8 out of 10 and ranks #1,673 of 1,815 schools in CO.
State assessment records show 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Graham Mesa Elementary School
What grades does Graham Mesa Elementary School serve?
Graham Mesa Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Graham Mesa Elementary School?
Graham Mesa Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 427 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Graham Mesa Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Graham Mesa Elementary School is 16.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Graham Mesa Elementary School rank in CO?
Graham Mesa Elementary School ranks #1,673 of 1,815 schools in CO.
What is Graham Mesa Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Graham Mesa Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.8 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 Graham Mesa Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Graham Mesa Elementary School has 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Graham Mesa Elementary School a charter school?
No, Graham Mesa Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Graham Mesa Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Graham Mesa Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Graham Mesa Elementary School?
36.8% of students at Graham 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
- 427
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 26
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Garfield County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 29.7%
- Phone
- (970) 665-7500
- Area population (ZIP 81650)
- 14,071
- Area average commute
- 31.8 min
- Area median age
- 33.5
Official sources & links
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 81650; 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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