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Clifton, ColoradoPhoto: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 3.0
B
Schools in Clifton · Mesa County Valley School District 51

Clifton’s public schools outscore 58% of Colorado districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Clifton, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Colorado, not nationally.

#98of 159 Colorado townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Colorado state tests taken in spring 2022, when 92% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
41%
▼ 4 pts vs CO 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
28%
▼ 4 pts vs CO 32%
2021–22
Graduate on time
81%
▼ 2 pts vs CO 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.6K
▼ 14% vs CO $15.9K
FY2024
Students per teacher
16.5
CO 16.3
Schools in town
4
10,728 students on the public path
In brief

Clifton’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 110 Colorado towns with household incomes within a quarter of Clifton’s, its schools beat 65%, higher than their 58% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 41% of tested students were proficient in reading and 28% in math, against 45% and 32% statewide; 92% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

81% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83% across Colorado. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,648 per student, against $15,889 across Colorado (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then eight middle and five high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Pear Park Baptist School (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Clifton’s grade

B Test scoresC Graduation

B: better than 58% of Colorado school districts, #98 of 159 Colorado towns. Both inputs trail the Colorado average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Colorado school districts we grade (169)Better than 58%
Lower resultsHigher results
Colorado towns with similar household incomes (110)Better than 65%
B−BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 9,836 test results and a graduating class of 1,635 could put Clifton anywhere from B− to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 92% of Clifton’s students in the tested grades sat them (9,818 in math, 9,855 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Clifton, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD to C+
6–88 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC− to B
9–125 high schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A−

Clifton’s public schools are run by Mesa County Valley School District 51, which also serves Fruita, Grand Junction and Palisade. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Mesa County Valley School District 51Grades PK–12 · 44 schools · 19,753 students · 16.5 per teacher (CO 16.3)
$13,648CO $15,889 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading41%
State average 44.9% · 9855 students tested
Math28%
State average 31.8% · 9818 students tested

Clifton vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Colorado towns that share Clifton’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
CliftonBMesa County Valley School District 51
Grand JunctionBMesa County Valley School District 51

Every school in Clifton

16 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Colorado’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Cliftonby address
Rocky Mountain Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
D
395 students14:1Rate it →
Chatfield Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Grand Junction
C+
371 students18:1Rate it →
Clifton Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C−
346 students15:1Rate it →
Also serving Cliftonin other towns
Gateway School
Grades PK–12 · Gateway
12 students4:1Rate it →
Fruita Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Fruita
C+
690 students17:1Rate it →
Redlands Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Grand Junction
B
632 students17:1Rate it →
Mount Garfield Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
569 students17:1Rate it →
Orchard Mesa Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Grand Junction
C−
560 students16:1Rate it →
Bookcliff Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Grand Junction
C
525 students14:1Rate it →
Grand Mesa Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Grand Junction
C
476 students15:1Rate it →
West Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Grand Junction
B−
468 students16:1Rate it →
Grand Junction High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Grand Junction
B
1,832 students20:1Rate it →
Fruita Monument High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Fruita
A−
1,427 students19:1Rate it →
Central High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Grand Junction
B−
1,352 students17:1Rate it →
Palisade High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Palisade
B+
1,073 students18:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Pear Park Baptist School
Grades 1–12 · Grand Junction
Private · Religious
13 students4:1Rate it →

Questions about Clifton’s schools

Are Clifton’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Colorado: the public schools Clifton children attend outscore 58% of Colorado’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #98 of 159 Colorado towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 65%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Clifton in?

Mesa County Valley School District 51, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 19,753 students in 44 schools (2024–25).

Where do Clifton kids go to high school?

One of 5 high schools, depending on your address: Grand Junction High School, Fruita Monument High School, Central High School, Palisade High School and Gateway School.

What is Clifton’s graduation rate?

81% of the class of 2023 in Mesa County Valley School District 51 graduated in four years, against 83% across Colorado.

How much does Clifton spend per student?

$13,648 in Mesa County Valley School District 51 (FY2024), against $15,889 across Colorado. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Clifton?

Yes: Pear Park Baptist School (religious, grades 1–12, 13 students).

Parents talk

What Clifton families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Clifton → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Colorado. Stars are from neighbors.