Grand Junction, CO — The Colorado Department of Education has released the latest four-year graduation rate data for school districts across Colorado, providing insight into graduation trends for the 2021–2022 ninth-grade cohort who earned diplomas in the 2024–2025 school year.

Mesa County Valley School District 51 reported a four-year graduation rate of 81.5%. While this represents a slight decrease from the 2023–24 graduation rate—an all-time high for District 51—it remains the second-highest graduation rate in the district’s history. Notably, District 51 has achieved its highest graduation rates over the past three years, coinciding with the implementation of the district’s three-year, community co-created Strategic Plan. These results reflect District 51’s continued commitment to supporting students through graduation, while recognizing that graduation outcomes are measured over time and highlight both progress and opportunities for continued growth.

Graduation data also captures students who require additional time to meet their graduation goals. District 51’s five-year graduation rate reached 86.9%, reinforcing the district’s commitment to supporting multiple pathways to graduation and ensuring students cross the finish line prepared for their next steps.

Additionally, District 51’s dropout rate declined to just 1.5%, once again below the state average. The district extends its sincere appreciation to the dedicated staff who work tirelessly to support students throughout their educational journeys, helping them stay engaged, persist through challenges, and achieve their goals.

Graduation outcomes for student subgroups with sufficient enrollment showed encouraging gains. District 51 students receiving Special Education services under Individualized Education Plans increased by 3%, multilingual learners saw a 14.7% increase, and migrant students experienced a 21.8% increase. While important work remains, these results reflect District 51’s ongoing focus on access, opportunity, and student success. In District 51, every student belongs, and every student matters.

At the individual school level, graduation outcomes highlight how schools are advancing the goals outlined in the district’s Strategic Plan and Graduate Profile. While most District 51 high school graduation rates remained steady, two schools demonstrated notable growth. Fruita Monument High School once again reported the highest graduation rate among District 51 high schools at 96%, marking its highest rate in the past five years. R-5 High School increased its graduation rate by nearly four percentage points, also achieving its highest rate in five years. Additionally, two District 51 comprehensive high schools reported graduation rates above the state average, with Palisade High School’s graduation rate 4.6 percentage points higher than the state average and Fruita Monument High School’s graduation rate 10.4 percentage points higher than the state average.

“Graduation data reflects the steady progress District 51 has made over the past three years as we’ve remained focused on the goals in our Strategic Plan,” said Dr. Brian Hill, Superintendent of District 51. “The past three years represent the highest graduation rates in the history of our district. These outcomes are the result of the collective efforts of our students, staff, and families, and they demonstrate that our work to support students academically, socially, and emotionally is making a difference. As we look ahead, we remain committed to ensuring every District 51 graduate leaves us prepared for life after high school—whether that path leads to college, career, military service, or other meaningful opportunities.”

District 51 will continue to use graduation data alongside other academic and student success measures to guide continuous improvement, ensuring alignment with the district’s Strategic Plan and Graduate Profile, and maintaining a focus on outcomes that matter most to students and their families.

For more information about graduation rates and accountability data, visit the Colorado Department of Education’s website.

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For more information, please contact District 51 Public Information Officer Callie Berkson at callie.berkson@d51schools.org or 505.217.6435