Below Average
#1536 of 1,815 schools in CO
Thunder Mountain Elementary School
Elementary School · Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 · Grand Junction, CO
A Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 elementary school where students score 3 points below what's typical for similar communities.
3063 F1/2 ROAD, Grand Junction, CO 81504
- Math 26% vs CO 40% (2025)
- Reading 33% vs CO 45% (2025)
- 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Thunder Mountain Elementary School score 29% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 32%).
2025 CMAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CO average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 10 points since 2020, reaching 29% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 37% (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
60.3%
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 Thunder Mountain 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 34Somewhat Bikeable
- 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
$67,907
Median home value
$290,300
Median rent
$1,414/mo
College educated
21.2%
Homeownership
78.7%
Poverty rate
12%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 81504; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruitvale Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.0 | PK–5 | 0.9 mi | 376 | Compare → |
| Pear Park Baptist SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–12 | 1.5 mi | 10 | Compare → |
| Life AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.6private | PK–12 | 1.6 mi | 85 | Compare → |
| Independence AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 6.6 | PK–8 | 1.9 mi | 487 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
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
- #36 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
Thunder Mountain Elementary School is listed in Mesa County Valley School District No. 51; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Thunder Mountain Elementary School
Thunder Mountain Elementary School is a public elementary school in Grand Junction, CO, part of Mesa County Valley School District No. 51, serving approximately 441 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.3 out of 10 and ranks #1,536 of 1,815 schools in CO. State assessment records show 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Thunder Mountain Elementary School
What grades does Thunder Mountain Elementary School serve?
Thunder Mountain Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Thunder Mountain Elementary School?
Thunder Mountain Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 441 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thunder Mountain Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Thunder Mountain Elementary School is 15.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Thunder Mountain Elementary School rank in CO?
Thunder Mountain Elementary School ranks #1,536 of 1,815 schools in CO.
What is Thunder Mountain Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Thunder Mountain Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.3 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 Thunder Mountain Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Thunder Mountain Elementary School has 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Thunder Mountain Elementary School a charter school?
No, Thunder Mountain Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Thunder Mountain Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Thunder Mountain Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Thunder Mountain Elementary School?
60.3% of students at Thunder Mountain 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
- 441
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 28
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize Suburb
- County
- Mesa County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 37.6%
- Phone
- (970) 254-5870
- Area population (ZIP 81504)
- 31,949
- Area average commute
- 19.4 min
- Area median age
- 36.9
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 81504; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.