LOOK: Colorado Report Lists Local Schools Ready to Be Closed

Enrollment numbers at District 51 Schools in Mesa County have declined in recent years, and according to the latest D51 report to the Board of Education, they expect this trend to continue.

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In a letter to the board, the district summarized the impact of declining enrollment, reported on staffing, and named area schools recommended for closure. Keep reading to see all five schools named in the report below.

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District 51 Recommends Closing Nisley Elementary

The Colorado Department of Education charged D51 leaders with developing a plan that met the needs of Nisley Elementary and the district. Their solution is to close the school beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. Students who currently attend Nisley would move on to either Orchard Avenue Elementary School or Fruitvale Elementary School. See a PDF of the D51 report here.

EDEC Closure Criteria

District 51 uses an EDEC Closure criteria that weighs several considerations into deciding if a school could or should be closed. Factors such as building adequacy, transportation, enrollment, school performance, and future growth. Keep scrolling to see how these factors are affecting schools that the district is considering closing in the future.

Five Mesa County Schools In Trouble

The five schools named in the D51 2024 report are Nisley Elementary on 28 3/4 Rd,  Scenic Elementary School on Scenic Drive, Clifton Elementary on F Road in Clifton, The Gateway School on 141 in Gateway, and New Emerson School on Unaweep Avenue in Grand Junction.

Let's compare each school mentioned in the report in the gallery below.