Needs Improvement
#1682 of 1,815 schools in CO
Mesa Elementary School
Elementary School · Montezuma-cortez School District No. Re-1 · Cortez, CO
A Montezuma-cortez School District No. Re-1 elementary school where students score 6 points below what's typical for similar communities.
703 WEST 7TH STREET, Cortez, CO 81321
- Math 14% vs CO 40% (2025)
- Reading 21% vs CO 45% (2025)
- 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Mesa Elementary School score 17% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 23%).
2025 CMAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CO average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 6 points since 2020, to 17% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 32% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 39% (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
77.5%
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 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 31Car-Dependent
- Bike 47Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,421/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Cortez), 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
$59,737
Median home value
$259,500
Median rent
$1,010/mo
College educated
27.6%
Homeownership
71.4%
Poverty rate
11.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 81321; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cortez Adventist Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–8 | 0.3 mi | 18 | Compare → |
| Kemper Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.5 | K–5 | 1.3 mi | 347 | Compare → |
| Children's Kiva Montessori SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified | 7.6 | K–8 | 1.5 mi | 142 | Compare → |
| Battle Rock Charter SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.2 | K–6 | Not available | 89 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Montezuma-cortez School District No. Re-1
- Schools in district
- 10
- Rank in district
- #9 of 10
- District spending per student
- $13,684NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 16.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Mesa Elementary School is listed in Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Mesa Elementary School
Mesa Elementary School is a public elementary school in Cortez, CO, part of Montezuma-cortez School District No. Re-1, serving approximately 409 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.7 out of 10 and ranks #1,682 of 1,815 schools in CO.
State assessment records show 32% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 39% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Mesa Elementary School
What grades does Mesa Elementary School serve?
Mesa Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Mesa Elementary School?
Mesa Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 409 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mesa Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at 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 Mesa Elementary School rank in CO?
Mesa Elementary School ranks #1,682 of 1,815 schools in CO.
What is Mesa Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Mesa Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.7 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 Mesa Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Mesa Elementary School has 32% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 39% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Mesa Elementary School a charter school?
No, Mesa Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Mesa Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Mesa Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Mesa Elementary School?
77.5% of students at 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
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 409
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 25
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Montezuma County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 55.3%
- Phone
- (970) 565-3858
- Area population (ZIP 81321)
- 14,278
- Area median age
- 42.7
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 81321; 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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