Best Public Schools in Grand Junction, CO

The Grand Junction, Colorado area is home to 32 schools, including 20 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 5 high schools, and 2 alternative schools, all part of the Mesa County Valley School District No. 51. While the district is ranked 52 out of 116 in Colorado and has an overall 3-star rating, several standout schools within the district are consistently among the top performers in the state.

Wingate Elementary School and Scenic Elementary School both earn 5-star ratings from SchoolDigger, with exceptional proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math that far exceed the district and state averages. At the secondary level, the public charter Caprock Academy and Mesa Valley Community School also stand out for their strong academic performance, with Caprock's 11th-grade students scoring well above the norm on the SAT.

However, the data also reveals significant achievement gaps across the district, with schools serving higher-poverty populations, such as Nisley Elementary and Dos Rios Elementary, struggling to reach even 20% proficiency in core subjects. This disparity highlights the need for more equitable access to quality education for all students in the Grand Junction area.