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Average

#1197 of 1,815 schools in CO

Orchard Mesa Middle School

Middle School · Mesa County Valley School District No. 51

2736 C ROAD, Grand Junction, CO 81503

Enrollment

581

Student-Teacher

17.6:1

Score

5.4

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Colorado schools

#1,197 of 1,815

In Grand Junction

#22 of 32

public schools

In district

#26 of 43

Mesa County Valley School District No. 51

Equity

7.4 / 10

Very Good

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Orchard Mesa Middle School

5.4/10

Middle School in Grand Junction · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

New Emerson School at Columbus

8.0/10

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

Dos Rios Elementary School

6.1/10

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

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. Orchard Mesa Middle School serves approximately 581 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Orchard Mesa Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,197 of 1,815 schools in CO.

Structured state assessment records for Orchard Mesa Middle School show 33% 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 5.4 · Average
  • District avg 5.2
  • CO avg 6.0

What Parents Should Know

37% of students at Orchard Mesa Middle 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 Progress4.9Below Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-3.91 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics7.2Very Good35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency31.2% (2025 CMAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency45.1% (2025 CMAS)
Math vs. State Avg-4.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+0.2 pts
Overall Proficiency38% (2025 CMAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)33% (model expectation from 2025 CMAS)
vs. Expected+5.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile59th
Resources & Environment3.8Needs Improvement25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,834
Chronic Absenteeism37.3%

Orchard Mesa Middle School — Students at Orchard Mesa Middle School score 38% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

58.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CO CMAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 33.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
35.1% (2025 CMAS)
ELA Proficiency 45.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
46.0% (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
78%
ELA
88%
2010
Math
83%
ELA
89%
2011
Math
52%
ELA
68%
2012
Math
55%
ELA
68%
2013
Math
57%
ELA
65%
2014
Math
22%
ELA
25%
2015
Math
25%
ELA
24%
2016
Math
17%
ELA
27%
2017
Math
19%
ELA
27%
2018
Math
15%
ELA
27%
2019
Math
15%
ELA
27%
2020*
Math
11%
ELA
25%
2021*
Math
11%
ELA
25%
2022
Math
14%
2025
Math
31.3%
ELA
45.2%

* 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: 4.9/10.

How Orchard Mesa Middle School Compares

See how Orchard Mesa Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.4/10
34th percentile in CO
Academic
7.2/10
Very Good
Growth
4.9/10
Below Average
Environment
3.8/10
Needs Improvement
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
59%
Teaching Staff
18:1 student-teacher ratio
33 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
37.3%

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

2736 C ROAD, Grand Junction, CO 81503

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Orchard Mesa Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. New Emerson School at Columbus (rated 8.0/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Tope Elementary School (rated 7.2/10, 2.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Mesa View Elementary School (rated 7.1/10, 2.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Grand Junction, see our Grand Junction schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.3 mi
School Distance Rating
New Emerson School at Columbus Grand Junction 0.6 mi 8.0
Dos Rios Elementary School Grand Junction 0.8 mi 6.1
Grand Mesa Youth Services Center Grand Junction 0.9 mi
LANDMARK BAPTIST SCHOOL Grand Junction 1.2 mi 5.9
R-5 High School Grand Junction 1.5 mi 4.7
Grand River Academy Grand Junction 1.6 mi 5.4
Chipeta Elementary School Grand Junction 1.7 mi 6.8
LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL OF MESSIAH Grand Junction 1.8 mi 6.3
Lincoln Orchard Mesa Elementary School Grand Junction 1.6 mi 6.4
Grand Junction High School Grand Junction 2.3 mi 5.7
Orchard Avenue Elementary School Grand Junction 2.5 mi 5.6
Dual Immersion Academy School Grand Junction 2.1 mi 6.1
Tope Elementary School Grand Junction 2.7 mi 7.2
West Middle School Grand Junction 2.7 mi 6.0
Nisley Elementary School Grand Junction 2.7 mi 4.0
BOOKCLIFF CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Grand Junction 3.0 mi 5.8
Career Center Preschool Grand Junction 2.7 mi 3.6
Mesa View Elementary School Grand Junction 2.6 mi 7.1
INTERMOUNTAIN ADVENTIST ACADEMY Grand Junction 3.0 mi 5.8
Juniper Ridge Community School Grand Junction 3.3 mi 6.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 81503 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$71,681

Median Home Value

$307,600

Median Rent

$1,015/mo

Population

16,132

College Educated

23%

Homeownership

78.1%

Avg Commute

20.6 min

Poverty Rate

12.6%

Median Age

40.1

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Carmody Middle School Lakewood, CO 5.4
Fort Logan Northgate Denver, CO 5.4
Watson Junior High School Colorado Springs, CO 5.4
Boltz Middle School Fort Collins, CO 5.5
Elizabeth Middle School Elizabeth, CO 5.5
Glenwood Springs Middle School Glenwood Springs, CO 5.5

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
29 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
16 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
50 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
581
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
33
Free/Reduced Lunch
58.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Mesa County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
37.3%

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