Florida Mesa Elementary Home

2022 Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award recipient
students work on math project

About Us

Florida Mesa is a thriving school community that serves approximately 280 students preschool through fifth grade. The staff is highly committed to supporting all students reach their maximum potential.
Learn more About Us
1st grade class
Where we’re located
Durango School District map
school building

Mission

The mission of Florida Mesa Elementary, an innovative learning community, committed to integrity and educational rigor, is to inspire, and develop compassionate, open-minded inquirers, who actively contribute to a better world, by guaranteeing equitable opportunities in a safe, healthy, and diverse environment.  

School & District News

potential ballot measure survey

Survey now open on potential ballot measure

Beginning April 18, we encourage everyone in La Plata County – district staff, families, community members – to participate in an important survey regarding public education programs, policies, and a potential ballot measure this November 2024.
graphic of rocket and space walker

DHS Women in STEM club host design sprint event

Durango High School (DHS) Women in STEM club is hosting a design sprint on Sunday, April 21 for grades 4-8 to build interest in STEM fields and to encourage incoming middle and high schoolers to begin or continue to follow a STEM pathway.
drawing of happy people in a field

DHS Green Team coloring contest

The Durango High School (DHS) Green Team is sponsoring an elementary school art contest! The process is simple: choose one of 2 coloring pages to complete with your original design and submit your work for the opportunity to receive a Cream Bean Berry gift card. Submissions are due April 15th.
kindergarten kids around table

Early Access Applications Available February 1

Durango School District 9-R has the opportunity to accelerate highly advanced gifted children under age 5 for kindergarten and/or under age 6 for first grade. This Early Access is for those eligible students if their birthdays fall after October 1. It is intended to support students who are evaluated to be exceptional in aptitude/cognitive reasoning, academics, school readiness, and motivation.
graphic

Free STEM Fair For All Kids, ages 5-14, Sunday, Dec. 3

The Durango High School's Women in STEM Club is hosting a free STEM Fair at Escalante Middle School on Sunday, Dec. 3, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. for all kids, ages 5-14. There will be fun engineering challenges, science experiments, technological investigations, and snacks.
Little girl having bandage applied after getting vaccine.

Mobile Vaccine Van Offers Required School Vaccines

We are excited to announce that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) will be bringing a mobile vaccine van to two Durango 9-R school locations to help families catch up on the required school vaccines.
Show All News
Principal Shannon Morris with award

Principal's Message

Florida Mesa Elementary School was awarded the 2022 Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award, for demonstrating exceptional student growth.
“We are extremely proud of our students and staff for their hard work, as we have been working to close academic achievement gaps as a result of COVID-related impacts,” said Shannon Morris, principal of Florida Mesa Elementary School. “We have created learning environments focused on growth and academic achievement.”

Events

Show All Events
Engineer Mountain

Quality of Life

Durango is a beautiful place to live and work. It is located at 6,512 feet elevation in Southwest Colorado near the Four Corners region. Families who live here enjoy a historic steam train, ski resort, rivers, vibrant downtown, bike trails, sky-high “fourteener” mountains, and four distinct seasons with an average of 266 sunny days per year. We welcome new families and new staff members, and we offer excellent benefits and competitive salaries. 
Join our team