Demographics
Montezuma Creek Elementary School (MCES) is a public Pre-K through 6th-grade school located on the Navajo Nation in southeastern Utah and is part of the San Juan School District (SJSD). The district serves 12 schools, ranging from elementary to high school, across more than 7,800 square miles of San Juan County.
MCES serves approximately 285 students from the communities of Montezuma Creek, Aneth, Red Mesa, Bluff, and other remote areas throughout southeastern Utah. The majority of our students are Navajo and come from families with strong cultural ties to their community and traditions.
Our student population faces several challenges that impact their educational experiences. Approximately 87% of students are classified as economically disadvantaged, 20% are English Language Learners (ELLs), and 43% qualify for services under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. All students at MCES qualify for free meals, and many families experience challenges related to geographic isolation and limited access to educational resources.
Transportation is also a significant factor in our students' daily lives. Some buses travel up to 90 minutes each way to pick up students from remote communities. As a result, some students begin their day as early as 6:20 a.m. and do not arrive home until around 4:45 p.m.
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