Juniper Ridge Community School

Summary:

Juniper Ridge Community School is a public charter elementary school serving 419 students in grades K-8 in Grand Junction, Colorado, which is part of the Mesa County Valley School District No. 51. While the school has a significantly higher percentage of white students compared to nearby schools, it consistently underperforms the district and state averages on academic assessments, ranking in the bottom 20% of Colorado elementary schools for various student groups.

Juniper Ridge's academic performance is a concern, with proficiency rates of just 25.8% in English Language Arts and 9.1% in Math, compared to the district's 41.1% and 31.8%, and the state's 44.1% and 34.2%, respectively. The school's statewide ranking has also steadily declined over the past several years, from 715 out of 938 Colorado elementary schools in 2014-2015 to 800 out of 943 in 2023-2024, with the school consistently rated at 1 or 0 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger. Additionally, Juniper Ridge has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, which may be contributing to the academic performance gaps observed between the school and its peers.

When compared to the nearby schools in the same district, such as Wingate Elementary and Scenic Elementary, Juniper Ridge consistently underperforms on academic measures, suggesting the need for a closer examination of the school's practices and strategies to improve student learning and achievement.

Detail:

Public, Charter K-8

640 24 1/2 Rd
Grand Junction, CO 81505-3294

(970) 639-0884

District: Mesa County Valley School District No. 51

SchoolDigger Rank:
800^th of 943 Colorado Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,301

Student/teacher ratio: 15.3

Number of students: 392

Racial breakdown:

White:

78.1%

Hispanic:

15.8%

Two or more races:

5.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 58.9%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Juniper Ridge Community School ranks worse than 84.8% of elementary schools in Colorado. It also ranks 24^th among 27 ranked elementary schools in the Mesa County Valley School District No. 51. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 15.3. (See more...)

Compare Details Juniper Ridge Community School ranks worse than 61.4% of middle schools in Colorado. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 32.61. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Juniper Ridge Community 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 (78.1%), Hispanic (15.8%), two or more races (5.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 58.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Juniper Ridge Community School is 15.3, which is the 12^th best among 27 elementary schools in the Mesa County Valley School District No. 51. (See more...)

Compare Juniper Ridge Community School employs 25.4 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Juniper Ridge Community School is $9,301. 27 elementary schools in the Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Juniper Ridge Community School:

SchoolDigger ranks Juniper Ridge Community School 800^th of 943 Colorado public elementary schools. (See Juniper Ridge Community School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

SchoolDigger ranks Juniper Ridge Community School 298^th of 485 Colorado public middle schools. (See Juniper Ridge Community School in the ranking list.)

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 Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Juniper Ridge Community School

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Juniper Ridge Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CO State Percentile
2015	23.18	715^th	938	23.8%
2019	20.96	768^th	965	20.4%
2022	11.78	857^th	921	6.9%
2023	20.34	726^th	933	22.2%
2024	15.30	800^th	943	15.2%

See the entire list of Colorado Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Juniper Ridge Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	17.30	326^th	365	10.7%

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

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Juniper Ridge Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	18.67	528^th	642	17.8%

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

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Juniper Ridge Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	12.83	585^th	649	9.9%

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

Rank History for elementary school White students at Juniper Ridge Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	3.20	524^th	525	0.2%

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

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

Rank History for Juniper Ridge Community School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CO State Percentile
2015	14.11	398^th	436	8.7%
2023	19.56	371^st	480	22.7%
2024	32.61	298^th	485	38.6%

See the entire list of Colorado Elementary School Rankings!

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

Data source: Colorado Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1.5)

50%

Reviews:

by a parent
Sunday, January 17, 2021

A total trainwreck of a school. Be prepared for the fact that once your children hit high-school age, they are thrown to the wolves in the local public school system and will be woefully unprepared for what awaits them. There also is a strong anti-science, anti-vax sentiment at Juniper Ridge, so be cautious if your child has a compromised immune system as they will frequently be sick. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Juniper Ridge Community School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2014	129	2	0	21	0	7	159
2015	169	2	1	22	3	7	204
2016	220	2	1	29	2	8	262
2017	248	2	1	36	2	14	303
2018	320	3	1	40	2	16	382
2019	281	0	0	36	3	15	335
2020	298	1	0	39	4	17	359
2021	323	2	0	35	4	20	384
2022	346	1	0	40	5	22	414
2023	336	1	0	52	4	26	419
2024	306	0	0	62	2	22	392

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 Juniper Ridge Community School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	159	9.7	16.3	12.6
2015	204	13.0	15.6	18.6
2016	262	14.0	18.7	32.4
2017	303	19.2	15.7	36.3
2018	382	21.0	18.1	13.1
2019	335	20.4	16.3	39.1
2020	359	21.4	16.7	37.9
2021	384	24.3	15.7	43
2022	414	27.4	15.0	33.3
2023	419	28.0	14.9	39.6
2024	392	25.4	15.3	58.9

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 Juniper Ridge Community School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	159	9.7	16.3	12.6
2015	204	13.0	15.6	18.6
2016	262	14.0	18.7	32.4
2017	303	19.2	15.7	36.3
2018	382	21.0	18.1	13.1
2019	335	20.4	16.3	39.1
2020	359	21.4	16.7	37.9
2021	384	24.3	15.7	43
2022	414	27.4	15.0	33.3
2023	419	28.0	14.9	39.6
2024	392	25.4	15.3	58.9

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 Juniper Ridge Community School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$10,263
2020	$7,394
2021	$8,763
2022	$8,061
2023	$9,301

Data source: Colorado Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Juniper Ridge Community 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 768^th of 965 Elementary schools	Ranks 726^th of 933 Elementary schools	1.8%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
4th Grade English Language Arts (Juniper Ridge Community School)	13.8	25	11.2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Mesa County Valley School District No. 51)	42	39.6	2.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)	48	43.8	4.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Juniper Ridge Community School)	46.9	30.4	16.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Mesa County Valley School District No. 51)	41.1	46.7	5.6%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)	48.4	47.8	0.6%
5th Grade Math (Juniper Ridge Community School)	12.2	13.6	1.4%
5th Grade Math (Mesa County Valley School District No. 51)	23.5	36.4	12.9%
5th Grade Math (Colorado)	35.7	36.5	0.8%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Juniper Ridge Community School)	35	12.9	22.1%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Mesa County Valley School District No. 51)	34.6	36.6	2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)	46.9	42.4	4.5%
All Grades English Language Arts (Juniper Ridge Community School)	24.1	26.8	2.7%
All Grades English Language Arts (Mesa County Valley School District No. 51)	36	39.2	3.2%
All Grades English Language Arts (Colorado)	45.8	43.7	2.1%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	335	419	25.1%
African American	0	1
American Indian	3	4	33.3%
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	36	52	44.4%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	281	336	19.6%
Two or More Races	15	26	73.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	39.1%	39.6%	0.5%

Schools Near Juniper Ridge Community School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				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	CMAS English Language Arts 3rd Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 4th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 6th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 7th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts All Grades	CMAS Math 3rd Grade	CMAS Math 4th Grade	CMAS Math 5th Grade	CMAS Math 6th Grade	CMAS Math 7th Grade	CMAS Math All Grades	CMAS Science 5th Grade	Total
Juniper Ridge Community School	Public, Charter	K-8	640 24 1/2 Rd	Grand Junction	81505	Mesa County	Mesa County Valley School District No. 51	Yes	No	No	No	(970) 639-0884	392	25	15.3	58.9%	306 (78.1%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (15.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.6%)	15.3	800^th of 943 public elementary schools	15.2%		20.3	726^th of 933 public elementary schools	22.2%	74		17.4	31.9	16.7	55.9	25.8				12.2	29.4	9.1	19.1	$9,301
Mesa Valley Enrichment Program	Public, Charter	K-6	609 25 Rd.	Grand Junction	81505	Mesa County	Mesa County Valley School District No. 51	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(970) 254-7202	0	6	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Pomona Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	588 25-1/2 Road	Grand Junction	81505	Mesa County	Mesa County Valley School District No. 51	No	No	No	No	(970) 254-4990	393	25	15.7	53.9%	248 (63.1%)	3 (0.8%)	121 (30.8%)	5 (1.3%)	5 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.8%)	56.2	397^th of 943 public elementary schools	57.9%		40.7	508^th of 933 public elementary schools	45.6%	111	39.1	60.7	54.7			50.6	41.4	54.4	28.3			41.7	34.6	$14,577
Appleton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2358 H Road	Grand Junction	81505	Mesa County	Mesa County Valley School District No. 51	No	No	No	No	(970) 254-6400	447	25	18.1	40.3%	358 (80.1%)	1 (0.2%)	67 (15.0%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	14 (3.1%)	67.1	295^th of 943 public elementary schools	68.7%		70.6	242^nd of 933 public elementary schools	74.1%	53	64.3	54.8	52.8			57.1	64.3	46.4	45.1			51.6	25.0	$13,481
Scenic Elementary School	Public	K-5	451 West Scenic Dr	Grand Junction	81507	Mesa County	Mesa County Valley School District No. 51	No	No	No	No	(970) 254-6370	215	15	14.5	37.7%	183 (85.1%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (10.2%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.2%)	89.7	80^th of 943 public elementary schools	91.5%		91.5	62^nd of 933 public elementary schools	93.4%	18	59.5	64.9	79.1			68.0	61.9	54.1	81.4			66.4	79.1	$13,796
Tope Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2220 N 7th St	Grand Junction	81501	Mesa County	Mesa County Valley School District No. 51	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 254-7070	361	20	18.1	52.1%	248 (68.7%)	0 (0.0%)	87 (24.1%)	3 (0.8%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	20 (5.5%)	60.5	361^st of 943 public elementary schools	61.7%		53.9	401^st of 933 public elementary schools	57.0%	40	50.0	60.8	50.0			53.7	51.0	51.0	30.2			44.8	27.9	$13,073
Dual Immersion Academy School	Public	PK, KG-5	552 A West Main Street	Grand Junction	81501	Mesa County	Mesa County Valley School District No. 51	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 254-6070	303	15	20.3	59.7%	72 (23.8%)	2 (0.7%)	225 (74.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	39.4	531^st of 943 public elementary schools	43.7%		59.7	349^th of 933 public elementary schools	62.6%	182	43.8	48.9	42.5			45.3	27.1	19.1	27.7			24.6	39.1	$13,075
Broadway Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2248 Broadway	Grand Junction	81507	Mesa County	Mesa County Valley School District No. 51	No	No	No	No	(970) 254-6430	289	17	16.7	37.0%	234 (81.0%)	6 (2.1%)	30 (10.4%)	5 (1.7%)	2 (0.7%)	2 (0.7%)	10 (3.5%)	85.6	118^th of 943 public elementary schools	87.5%		86.8	102^nd of 933 public elementary schools	89.1%	16	52.0	71.7	88.2			68.5	52.0	63.0	70.6			60.8	70.6	$14,112
Chipeta Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	950 Chipeta Avenue	Grand Junction	81501	Mesa County	Mesa County Valley School District No. 51	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 254-6825	363	24	15.3	75.5%	217 (59.8%)	2 (0.6%)	133 (36.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.5%)	34.4	564^th of 943 public elementary schools	40.2%		28.7	618^th of 933 public elementary schools	33.8%	54	26.6	44.3	29.6			33.5	43.1	30.6	24.6			33.2	25.5	$15,497
Orchard Avenue Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1800 Orchard Ave	Grand Junction	81501	Mesa County	Mesa County Valley School District No. 51	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 254-7560	306	21	14.4	64.1%	228 (74.5%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (20.3%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.6%)	50.9	440^th of 943 public elementary schools	53.3%		49.4	440^th of 933 public elementary schools	52.8%		39.6	38.8	58.1			44.8	27.8	34.0	42.9			34.2	53.5	$15,499

Frequently Asked Questions about Juniper Ridge Community School

Is Juniper Ridge Community School a good school?

Juniper Ridge Community School ranks in the bottom 15.2% of Colorado elementary schools.

How many students attend Juniper Ridge Community School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 392 students attended Juniper Ridge Community School.

What district is Juniper Ridge Community School in?

Mesa County Valley School District No. 51

What is the racial makeup of Juniper Ridge Community School?

Students at Juniper Ridge Community School are 78% White, 16% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Colorado Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.