Is Central High School a good school?

Central High School ranks 200 th of 349 Colorado high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Central High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,443 students attended Central High School.

What is the racial makeup of Central High School?

Students at Central High School are 59% White, 34% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Central High School?

Central High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Chatfield Elementary School Elementary : Fruitvale Elementary School Elementary : Nisley Elementary School Elementary : Thunder Mountain Elementary School Middle : Bookcliff Middle School Middle : Grand Mesa Middle School

Central High School

Summary:

Central High School is a public high school serving 1,613 students in grades 9-12 in Grand Junction, Colorado, which is part of the Mesa County Valley School District No. 51. While the school has a diverse student population, with a significant Hispanic enrollment, its academic performance is generally lower than the district and state averages, particularly for certain student subgroups.

Compared to nearby schools like Fruita Monument High School and Palisade High School, Central High School's standardized test scores are lower, with only 26% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in CMAS/Science, compared to the district average of 32.6% and the state average of 24.8%. The school's performance for gifted and talented students is also a concern, ranking 92nd out of 108 Colorado high schools in 2021-2022.

Additionally, Central High School has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, at 44.82%, which is higher than the nearby schools. The school's statewide ranking has also steadily declined over the past several years, suggesting that its performance is not keeping pace with other schools in the state. The significant performance gaps between different student subgroups at Central High School, particularly for White and multi-racial students, indicate potential equity issues that the school and district may need to address.

Detail:

Public 9-12

3130 E1/2 Road
Grand Junction, CO 81504-6063

(970) 254-6200

District: Mesa County Valley School District No. 51

SchoolDigger Rank:
200^th of 349 Colorado High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,447

Feeder schools for Central High School:

Elementary:	Chatfield Elementary School
	Fruitvale Elementary School
	Nisley Elementary School
	Thunder Mountain Elementary School
Middle:	Bookcliff Middle School
	Grand Mesa Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 18.1

Number of students: 1,443

Racial breakdown:

White:

59.3%

Hispanic:

34.2%

Two or more races:

4.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 58.6%

See top rated Colorado high schools

Compare Central High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Central High School ranks worse than 57.3% of high schools in Colorado. It also ranks last among 5 ranked high schools in the Mesa County Valley School District No. 51. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 40.49. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Central High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (59.3%), Hispanic (34.2%), two or more races (4.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 58.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Central High School is 18.1, which is the 3^rd best among 5 high schools in the Mesa County Valley School District No. 51. (See more...)

Compare Central High School employs 79.4 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Central High School is $13,447. 4 high schools in the Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Central High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Central High School 200^th of 349 Colorado public high schools. (See Central High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Mesa County Valley School District No. 51:

SchoolDigger ranks Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 52^nd of 116 Colorado school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Central High School.

What do you think?

Your rating for Central High School?

(Ranking FAQ)

Rank History for Central High School

Compare

Rank History for all students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2004	57.92	120^th	279	57.0%
2005	47.88	150^th	280	46.4%
2006	47.56	165^th	286	42.3%
2007	54.09	154^th	298	48.3%
2008	45.71	174^th	301	42.2%
2009	44.23	189^th	310	39.0%
2010	45.93	201^st	327	38.5%
2011	47.45	192^nd	337	43.0%
2012	41.42	208^th	334	37.7%
2013	45.45	208^th	349	40.4%
2014	40.60	235^th	369	36.3%
2015	35.90	169^th	292	42.1%
2016	23.64	187^th	255	26.7%
2017	22.25	190^th	256	25.8%
2018	32.49	245^th	388	36.9%
2019	32.69	266^th	411	35.3%
2021	17.40	172^nd	210	18.1%
2022	14.59	185^th	221	16.3%
2024	40.49	200^th	349	42.7%

See the entire list of Colorado High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	3.88	48^th	48	0.0%
2022	14.19	50^th	56	10.7%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	17.57	66^th	77	14.3%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2021	43.98	102^nd	188	45.7%
2022	41.88	115^th	203	43.3%
2024	53.45	88^th	211	58.3%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2021	31.99	162^nd	239	32.2%
2022	27.70	182^nd	257	29.2%
2024	36.41	155^th	257	39.7%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	74.87	14^th	118	88.1%
2022	24.19	92^nd	108	14.8%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2021	29.78	163^rd	240	32.1%
2022	27.99	174^th	253	31.2%
2024	39.48	146^th	256	43.0%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2021	25.78	134^th	181	26.0%
2022	29.29	144^th	205	29.8%
2024	48.05	88^th	199	55.8%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2021	16.53	194^th	225	13.8%
2022	10.73	211^th	228	7.5%
2024	17.86	195^th	229	14.8%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Colorado Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Colorado Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Central High School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	1104	3	6	93	8	n/a	n/a	1214
1989	1123	10	7	106	8	n/a	n/a	1254
1990	1104	8	13	105	6	n/a	n/a	1236
1991	1155	5	17	103	9	n/a	n/a	1289
1992	1187	4	18	123	10	n/a	n/a	1342
1993	1194	1	19	130	13	n/a	n/a	1357
1994	1181	4	10	119	13	n/a	n/a	1327
1995	1164	6	10	137	9	n/a	n/a	1326
1996	1164	6	10	137	9	n/a	n/a	1326
1997	1197	4	9	132	7	n/a	n/a	1349
1998	1198	8	11	143	10	n/a	n/a	1370
1999	1214	9	16	145	8	n/a	n/a	1392
2000	1299	9	17	150	12	n/a	n/a	1487
2001	1340	9	19	168	12	n/a	n/a	1548
2002	1398	9	17	205	23	n/a	n/a	1652
2003	1398	9	17	205	23	n/a	n/a	1652
2004	1351	10	19	236	25	n/a	n/a	1641
2005	1312	14	15	264	29	n/a	n/a	1634
2006	1290	10	16	303	26	n/a	n/a	1645
2007	1289	18	18	353	36	n/a	n/a	1714
2008	1289	11	15	353	29	n/a	n/a	1697
2009	1205	18	24	382	41	n/a	n/a	1670
2010	1197	22	18	393	34	n/a	n/a	1664
2011	1124	12	13	404	22	2	22	1599
2012	1072	16	11	407	30	2	34	1572
2013	1011	11	10	400	10	3	41	1486
2014	991	12	15	381	14	2	47	1462
2015	962	9	12	421	15	3	51	1473
2016	978	15	9	425	17	6	65	1515
2017	1020	13	11	414	14	2	62	1536
2018	970	16	9	459	10	0	54	1518
2019	963	15	9	534	9	1	67	1598
2020	985	10	7	557	11	3	74	1647
2021	953	9	8	532	8	4	69	1583
2022	968	7	12	549	9	6	79	1630
2023	973	7	12	525	8	3	85	1613
2024	855	6	12	494	5	3	68	1443

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Central High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1214	66.5	18.2	n/a
1989	1254	66.3	18.9	9.3
1990	1236	66.2	18.6	7.3
1991	1289	66.2	19.4	8.6
1992	1342	68.9	19.4	10
1993	1357	67.5	20.1	8
1994	1327	70.5	18.8	6.4
1995	1326	71.2	18.6	22.4
1996	1326	71.2	18.6	22.4
1997	1349	69.6	19.4	24.9
1998	1370	68.0	20.1	17.4
1999	1392	68.1	20.4	16.3
2000	1487	72.0	20.7	26.4
2001	1548	76.6	20.2	27.4
2002	1652	79.3	20.8	30.4
2003	1652	79.3	20.8	30.4
2004	1641	85.5	19.2	34.4
2005	1634	82.0	19.9	36.8
2006	1645	74.8	22.0	37.3
2007	1714	76.5	22.4	25.6
2008	1697	83.3	20.4	34.5
2009	1670	87.5	19.1	36.3
2010	1664	87.8	18.9	44.4
2011	1599	88.1	18.1	47.7
2012	1572	85.5	18.3	46.1
2013	1486	83.4	17.8	47
2014	1462	84.8	17.2	43
2015	1473	84.0	17.5	44.3
2016	1515	82.0	18.4	48.4
2017	1536	82.1	18.6	52.3
2018	1518	81.8	18.5	43.6
2019	1598	81.6	19.5	51.9
2020	1647	85.5	19.2	47
2021	1583	77.6	20.3	55.6
2022	1630	82.6	19.7	49.4
2023	1613	83.7	19.2	44.8
2024	1443	79.4	18.1	58.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Central High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1214	66.5	18.2	n/a
1989	1254	66.3	18.9	9.3
1990	1236	66.2	18.6	7.3
1991	1289	66.2	19.4	8.6
1992	1342	68.9	19.4	10
1993	1357	67.5	20.1	8
1994	1327	70.5	18.8	6.4
1995	1326	71.2	18.6	22.4
1996	1326	71.2	18.6	22.4
1997	1349	69.6	19.4	24.9
1998	1370	68.0	20.1	17.4
1999	1392	68.1	20.4	16.3
2000	1487	72.0	20.7	26.4
2001	1548	76.6	20.2	27.4
2002	1652	79.3	20.8	30.4
2003	1652	79.3	20.8	30.4
2004	1641	85.5	19.2	34.4
2005	1634	82.0	19.9	36.8
2006	1645	74.8	22.0	37.3
2007	1714	76.5	22.4	25.6
2008	1697	83.3	20.4	34.5
2009	1670	87.5	19.1	36.3
2010	1664	87.8	18.9	44.4
2011	1599	88.1	18.1	47.7
2012	1572	85.5	18.3	46.1
2013	1486	83.4	17.8	47
2014	1462	84.8	17.2	43
2015	1473	84.0	17.5	44.3
2016	1515	82.0	18.4	48.4
2017	1536	82.1	18.6	52.3
2018	1518	81.8	18.5	43.6
2019	1598	81.6	19.5	51.9
2020	1647	85.5	19.2	47
2021	1583	77.6	20.3	55.6
2022	1630	82.6	19.7	49.4
2023	1613	83.7	19.2	44.8
2024	1443	79.4	18.1	58.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Central High School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$10,666
2020	$12,532
2021	$11,348
2022	$12,290
2023	$13,447

Data source: Colorado Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Central High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 266^th of 411 High schools	Ranks 185^th of 221 High schools	19%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1598	1613	0.9%
African American	15	7	53.3%
American Indian	9	8	11.1%
Asian	9	12	33.3%
Hispanic	534	525	1.7%
Pacific Islander	1	3	200%
White	963	973	1%
Two or More Races	67	85	26.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	51.9%	44.8%	7.1%

Schools Near Central High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				PSAT10 Reading and Writing (2024)	PSAT10 Mathematics (2024)	PSAT9 Reading and Writing (2024)	PSAT9 Mathematics (2024)	SAT Reading and Writing (2024)	SAT Mathematics (2024)	CMAS English Language Arts (2024)		CMAS Math (2024)		CMAS Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT10 Reading and Writing 10th Grade	PSAT10 Mathematics 10th Grade	PSAT9 Reading and Writing 9th Grade	PSAT9 Mathematics 9th Grade	SAT Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 7th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts All Grades	CMAS Math 8th Grade	CMAS Math All Grades	CMAS Science 11th Grade	Total
Central High School	Public	9-12	3130 E1/2 Road	Grand Junction	81504	Mesa County	Mesa County Valley School District No. 51	No	No	No	No	(970) 254-6200	1,443	79	18.1	58.6%	855 (59.3%)	6 (0.4%)	494 (34.2%)	12 (0.8%)	5 (0.3%)	3 (0.2%)	68 (4.7%)	40.5	200^th of 349 public high schools	42.7%					(n/a)	69.0	31.0	59.0	28.0	47.0	21.0					26.0	$13,447
Grand Mesa Youth Services Center	Public	5-12	360 28 Rd	Grand Junction	81501	Mesa County	Division of Youth Services	No	No	No	No	(970) 242-1521																			(n/a)												$00
R-5 High School	Public	9-12	455 N. 22nd St.Ste. B	Grand Junction	81501	Mesa County	Mesa County Valley School District No. 51	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 254-6880	218	19	11.4	74.3%	122 (56.0%)	3 (1.4%)	85 (39.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.2%)								(n/a)					22.0							$18,291
Grand Mesa Youth Services Center	Public	5-12	360 28 Road	Grand Junction	81501	Mesa County	Mesa County Valley School District No. 51	No	No	No	No	(970) 242-8445	10	0			4 (40.0%)	2 (20.0%)	4 (40.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)												$6,431
Grand Junction High School	Public	9-12	1400 N 5th St	Grand Junction	81501	Mesa County	Mesa County Valley School District No. 51	No	No	No	No	(970) 254-6900	1,590	84	18.9	48.1%	1,086 (68.3%)	13 (0.8%)	401 (25.2%)	24 (1.5%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	60 (3.8%)	53.8	147^th of 349 public high schools	57.9%		45.6	177^th of 349 public high schools	49.3%	30	67.0	28.0	73.0	43.0	59.0	22.0					36.2	$13,493
Palisade High School	Public	9-12	3679 G Road	Palisade	81526	Mesa County	Mesa County Valley School District No. 51	No	No	No	No	(970) 254-4800	1,069	58	18.3	51.4%	693 (64.8%)	11 (1.0%)	298 (27.9%)	6 (0.6%)	8 (0.7%)	4 (0.4%)	49 (4.6%)	54.9	142^nd of 349 public high schools	59.3%		56.4	134^th of 349 public high schools	61.6%	8	71.0	45.0	62.0	38.0	53.0	31.0					33.3	$14,050
Mesa Valley Community School	Public, Charter	6-12	609 25 Road	Grand Junction	81505	Mesa County	Mesa County Valley School District No. 51	Yes	No	No	No	(970) 254-7202	170	10	16.7		121 (71.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (16.5%)	3 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (10.6%)	81.8	53^rd of 349 public high schools	84.8%		80.5	63^rd of 349 public high schools	81.9%	10	90.0	40.0	88.0	64.0	65.0		50.0	50.0	50.0	36.0		$10,308
Fruita Monument High School	Public	10-12	1102 Wildcat Ave	Fruita	81521	Mesa County	Mesa County Valley School District No. 51	No	No	No	No	(970) 254-6600	1,273	67	19.0	29.5%	1,033 (81.1%)	5 (0.4%)	165 (13.0%)	17 (1.3%)	7 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	45 (3.5%)	64.8	116^th of 349 public high schools	66.8%		59.8	130^th of 349 public high schools	62.8%	14	76.0	35.0			69.0	33.0					47.8	$14,379

Central High School

Central High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Mesa County Valley School District No. 51:

Average Rating:

What do you think?

Rank History for Central High School

Rank History for all students at Central High School

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Central High School

Rank History for Special Education students at Central High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Central High School

Rank History for Female students at Central High School

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Central High School

Rank History for Male students at Central High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Central High School

Rank History for White students at Central High School

Review counts

Enrollment information for Central High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Central High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Central High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Central High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Central High School

Rankings

Student Body

Schools Near Central High School

Frequently Asked Questions about Central High School

Rate Central High School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Sign up for updates!