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Clifton CDP, CO

ZIP 81520 — Schools & Education

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 5-Year Estimates. Page data updated 2026-08-02.

Working ClassLow Snow Area

School district, nearby K-12 schools, and universities

Schools & Education in ZIP 81520

K-12 nearby
45
Public
39
Private
6
Avg enrollment
—

ZIP 81520 (Clifton, CO) is associated with Mesa County Valley School District 51 (LEA 0804350) on US5’s NCES EDGE district mapping. District assignment is ZIP/ZCTA-based and can span multiple attendance boundaries — confirm school assignment with the district for enrollment.

Within about 10 miles, US5 lists 45 K-12 schools (39 public, 6 private). Median distance to listed schools is about 6.5 miles.

ACS estimates show about 0.0% of school-enrolled residents in this ZIP attending private school — a ZIP-level share, not a per-campus rate.

The nearest college/university on US5 is Intellitec College-Grand Junction about 5.2 miles away (2yr-private).

District & higher education
School district
Mesa County Valley School District 51
LEA ID
0804350
Private school share (ACS)
0.0%

Colleges & universities (5)

  • Intellitec College-Grand Junction5.2 miles (8.4 km)2yr-private
  • Colorado Mesa University6.7 miles (10.8 km)4yr-public
  • Colorado Mountain College66.5 miles (107.0 km)4yr-public
  • Colorado Northwestern Community College69.7 miles (112.1 km)4yr-public
  • Western Colorado University90.3 miles (145.3 km)4yr-public
K-12 schools within ~10 miles

Sorted table with type, grades, enrollment, and distance. Data from NCES CCD / EDGE extracts.

Grades
Clifton Elementary Schoolpublic——1.4 miles (2.2 km)
Mount Garfield Middle Schoolpublic——1.7 miles (2.7 km)
Grand Mesa Middle Schoolpublic——2.4 miles (3.9 km)
Central High Schoolpublic——2.6 miles (4.3 km)
Thunder Mountain Elementary Schoolpublic——2.8 miles (4.6 km)
Rocky Mountain Elementary Schoolpublic——2.9 miles (4.7 km)
Ascent Classical Academy of Grand Junctionpublic——3.1 miles (5.0 km)
Chatfield Elementary Schoolpublic——3.1 miles (5.1 km)
PEAR PARK BAPTIST SCHOOLprivate——3.3 miles (5.3 km)
Palisade High Schoolpublic——3.4 miles (5.5 km)
Fruitvale Elementary Schoolpublic——3.7 miles (6.0 km)
Pear Park Elementary Schoolpublic——4.3 miles (6.9 km)
Taylor Elementary Schoolpublic——4.3 miles (7.0 km)
LIFE ACADEMYprivate——4.4 miles (7.1 km)
Bookcliff Middle Schoolpublic——4.5 miles (7.3 km)
Independence Academypublic——4.6 miles (7.4 km)
Career Center Preschoolpublic——4.7 miles (7.6 km)
Nisley Elementary Schoolpublic——5.0 miles (8.1 km)
Orchard Avenue Elementary Schoolpublic——6.2 miles (10.0 km)
R-5 High Schoolpublic——6.4 miles (10.3 km)
Grand Mesa Youth Services Centerpublic——6.5 miles (10.4 km)
Grand Mesa Youth Services Centerpublic——6.5 miles (10.4 km)
Mesa View Elementary Schoolpublic——6.5 miles (10.5 km)
Lincoln Orchard Mesa Elementary Schoolpublic——6.6 miles (10.6 km)
Grand River Academypublic——6.7 miles (10.8 km)
HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC SCHOOLprivate——6.8 miles (10.9 km)
LANDMARK BAPTIST SCHOOLprivate——6.8 miles (10.9 km)
LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL OF MESSIAHprivate——6.9 miles (11.1 km)
Tope Elementary Schoolpublic——7.0 miles (11.2 km)
Wildflower Montessori Public School of Colorado Grand Valleypublic——7.0 miles (11.2 km)
Chipeta Elementary Schoolpublic——7.1 miles (11.4 km)
Juniper Ridge Community Schoolpublic——7.1 miles (11.5 km)
Grand Junction High Schoolpublic——7.3 miles (11.7 km)
Orchard Mesa Middle Schoolpublic——7.4 miles (11.9 km)
West Middle Schoolpublic——7.6 miles (12.2 km)
New Emerson School at Columbuspublic——7.9 miles (12.7 km)
Pomona Elementary Schoolpublic——7.9 miles (12.8 km)
INTERMOUNTAIN ADVENTIST ACADEMYprivate——8.0 miles (12.9 km)
Dos Rios Elementary Schoolpublic——8.2 miles (13.2 km)
Dual Immersion Academy Schoolpublic——8.3 miles (13.4 km)
Mesa Valley Community Schoolpublic——8.6 miles (13.8 km)
Mesa Valley Enrichment Programpublic——8.6 miles (13.8 km)
Caprock Academypublic——8.8 miles (14.1 km)
Appleton Elementary Schoolpublic——9.8 miles (15.7 km)
Scenic Elementary Schoolpublic——9.9 miles (15.9 km)

Schools FAQ for ZIP 81520

What school district is ZIP code 81520 in?
ZIP 81520 (Clifton, CO) maps to Mesa County Valley School District 51 (LEA ID 0804350) in US5’s NCES EDGE ZCTA-to-district data. Always verify attendance zones with the district.
How many schools are near ZIP code 81520?
US5 lists 45 K-12 schools within about 10 miles — 39 public and 6 private. See the sortable table on this page for grades, enrollment, and distance.
What share of students in 81520 attend private school?
About 0.0% of school-enrolled residents in ZIP 81520 attend private school (ACS estimate).

Schools & Education key statistics

Education statistics
Education
Bachelor's or higher11.4%
High school33.9%
Less than HS18.9%
School districtMesa County Valley School District 51