The Mesa County Valley School District 51 boundaries will change again due to an enrollment imbalance between Grand Junction High School and Central High School.
The new high school boundary changes will reduce enrollment at Grand Junction High School and increase enrollment at Central High School. The areas affected would be for students who attend Orchard Mesa and Bookcliff middle schools, and would range from the Redlands all the way to Orchard Mesa.
Since the proposition passed, the 2026-27 freshman class will see a significant decrease at GJHS, becoming more balanced with the freshman population of CHS. The current population of GJHS is 1,954 students out of a reported max capacity of 1,850 for the $144 million building that opened in August 2024.
That is compared to CHS’ reported population of 1,308, Palisade High School’s number of ~1,050, and Fruita Monument High School’s population of 1,300. CHS is currently undergoing a $68 million renovation that will add an extra classroom wing, among other improvements. These changes come as a response to the rise from 578 freshmen at GJHS last year to 592 this year.
“We annually take a look at enrollment patterns and trends in the district and whether or not we need to adjust boundaries,” said D51 Superintendent Brian Hill.
Current GJHS students will not be affected by the changes, and there may be limited sibling grandfathering available, allowing younger siblings to attend the same school their older sibling does, even if they live outside the school’s zone. School of choice will also be open after winter break, according to Hill, but students will not be able to transfer to GJHS.
“I think it’s good that we’re making the freshman class smaller because the hallways are always so cramped,” said GJHS junior Riley Smith.
D51 has made other boundary changes in recent years, most recently in 2021. Those changes were due to the closure of Clifton, Nisley, and Scenic elementary schools. It was announced on Dec. 13, 2024, that those schools would be closed.
According to the district, the boundaries being changed are neighborhoods between I-70 Business Loop and the Colorado River from 28 to 30 Road, which includes parts of the Pear Park and Chipeta areas; areas south of the Colorado River and north of Unaweep Ave. from 28 to 28 ½ Rd, covering west of the Lincoln Orchard Mesa Elementary area.
“[For] kids who live near Whitewater or on the far east side of Orchard Mesa, it’s actually quicker for them to go to central,” said GJHS principal Jory Sorensen.
Other zones include the area between Unaweep Ave. and north of the fairgrounds on B ¼ Road, from 27 ½ to 28 ½ Road, as well as the Lincoln Orchard Mesa area. Additionally, there is the stretch on the north edge of B ¼ Road between 27 ½ and 28 ½ roads, including Whitewater and surrounding neighborhoods. This area is part of the western portion of Mesa View Elementary.
