Average
#1197 of 1,815 schools in CO
Orchard Mesa Middle School
Middle School · Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 · Grand Junction, CO
A Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 middle school where students score 5 points above what's typical for similar communities.
2736 C ROAD, Grand Junction, CO 81503
- Math 31% vs CO 35% (2025)
- Reading 45% vs CO 46% (2025)
- 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Orchard Mesa Middle School score 38% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).
2025 CMAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CO average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 20 points since 2020, reaching 38% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 33% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 45% (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
58.5%
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 Orchard Mesa Middle 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 29Car-Dependent
- Transit 16Minimal Transit
- Bike 50Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,773/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Grand Junction), 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
$71,681
Median home value
$307,600
Median rent
$1,015/mo
College educated
23%
Homeownership
78.1%
Poverty rate
12.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 81503; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landmark Baptist SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.9private | K–12 | 1.2 mi | 91 | Compare → |
| Grand River AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 5.4 | K–12 | 1.6 mi | 516 | Compare → |
| West Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.0 | 6–8 | 2.7 mi | 460 | Compare → |
| Bookcliff Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.1 | 6–8 | 3.0 mi | 565 | 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.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Mesa County Valley School District No. 51
- Schools in district
- 46
- Rank in district
- #26 of 43
- District spending per student
- $12,834NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 8.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Orchard Mesa Middle School is listed in Mesa County Valley School District No. 51; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Orchard Mesa Middle School
Orchard Mesa Middle School is a public middle school in Grand Junction, CO, part of Mesa County Valley School District No. 51, serving approximately 581 students in grades 6th-8th with a 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,197 of 1,815 schools in CO. State assessment records show 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Orchard Mesa Middle School
What grades does Orchard Mesa Middle School serve?
Orchard Mesa Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Orchard Mesa Middle School?
Orchard Mesa Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 581 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Orchard Mesa Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Orchard Mesa Middle School is 17.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Orchard Mesa Middle School rank in CO?
Orchard Mesa Middle School ranks #1,197 of 1,815 schools in CO.
What is Orchard Mesa Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Orchard Mesa Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 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 Orchard Mesa Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Orchard Mesa Middle School has 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Orchard Mesa Middle School a charter school?
No, Orchard Mesa Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Orchard Mesa Middle School a Title I school?
No, Orchard Mesa Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Orchard Mesa Middle School?
58.5% of students at Orchard Mesa Middle 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
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 581
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 33
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Mesa County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 37.3%
- Phone
- (970) 254-6320
- Area population (ZIP 81503)
- 16,132
- Area average commute
- 20.6 min
- Area median age
- 40.1
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 81503; 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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