Mesa County Valley 51 is a city-based school district in Colorado serving 19,900 students across 47 schools, including 27 elementary, 8 middle, and 6 high schools. The district experienced a 6.7% enrollment decrease from the prior year, with a student-teacher ratio of 16.0:1 supported by 1,261 teachers.
Academic performance shows mixed results relative to state benchmarks. Math proficiency reaches 34.7%, exceeding the state average of 28.4%, while reading proficiency at 43.1% similarly exceeds the state average of 37.9%. However, the graduation rate of 81.5% falls below Colorado's 86.4% average. The district maintains a low dropout rate of 1.5% and minimal chronic absenteeism at 0.4%.
The student population reflects significant economic challenges, with 45.7% classified as economically disadvantaged. Additionally, 15.6% of students receive special education services, while 3.7% are English learners.
Financially, the district operates on $281.4 million in total budget with per-pupil spending of $5,986, substantially below the state average of $8,178. Revenue composition shows reliance on state funding at 44.0%, local sources at 36.2%, and federal support at 19.8%. This funding differential relative to state averages may influence resource availability and program capacity compared to higher-funded districts within Colorado.
This summary was generated by AI from public data sources. Last updated May 5, 2026.
This data is aggregated from state and federal public datasets. While we believe it is accurate, we always recommend confirming it on the corresponding state or federal site. See Data Notes for more.
Total Students
19,900
Schools
47
Per-Pupil Spending
$5,986
Data Sources: NCES Common Core of Data, NCES F-33 Finance Survey, EDFacts
Federal Data Year: 2022-23
State Data Year: 2024-25
Note: Some data may be unavailable for certain districts or years. Proficiency rates reflect state-specific assessment standards.
Math Proficiency
34.7%
Staff counts are Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) from NCES 2024-25 data.
2024-25 Accreditation Rating
Meets 95% Participation
Students per staff member (lower is better)
Source: Colorado Department of Education, District Performance Framework & School Support Services, 2024-25 School Year