Best Schools in Santa Fe, New Mexico
60 schools · 34 Elementary · 4 Middle · 14 High · 8 Other
Choosing a school in Santa Fe?
Use this page to compare every school in Santa Fe by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Mandela International Magnet (mims)
High · Santa Fe. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Carlos Gilbert Elementary
Elementary · Santa Fe. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Atalaya Elementary
Elementary · Santa Fe. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Santa Fe for 2026 are Mandela International Magnet (mims) (9.7/10), Carlos Gilbert Elementary (9.2/10), and Atalaya Elementary (8.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 49 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
60
44 public · 16 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$503,820
home value · ACS
Districts
14
serving the city
Schools
60
44 public · 16 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$503,820
home value · ACS
Districts
14
serving the city
Rates 9.7/10 despite 25% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.4 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Santa Fe schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Santa Fe
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (49 of 60). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mandela International Magnet (mims) | 9.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Carlos Gilbert Elementary | 9.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Atalaya Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 4 | EL Dorado Community School | 8.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Wood-gormley Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Santa Fe School for the Arts & Sciences | 8.7 / 10 |
| 7 | Academy for Technology & Classics | 8.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Chaparral Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Pinon Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 10 | Acequia Madre Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.6/10
- Median household income
- $81,473
- Median home value
- $503,820
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 49%
- Avg commute
- 22 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 73%
35% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Santa Fe compares
New Mexico rank
#30 of 79
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.3
above New Mexico avg (6.2)
Median household income
$81k
142% of New Mexico median
Schools in this city
52
Education Snapshot
Santa Fe, New MexicoSanta Fe's school landscape spans 60 schools across 14 districts, serving roughly 18,925 students. The level mix leans heavily elementary — 34 campuses at that level compared to 4 middle schools and 14 high schools. The city averages a MySchoolScout composite rating of 6.6/10 across 52 scored schools, outpacing the New Mexico state average of 6.2/10 by 0.4 points. Eight charter schools widen choice beyond traditional district placements. The household income and education profile stands markedly above state norms: a median household income of $83,599 runs 36% higher than New Mexico's $61,395 median, and 53% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Having 14 separate districts operating within a single city gives parents a broader range of governance models to evaluate when selecting schools — an unusual structural feature for a city of this enrollment size.
About Schools in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe's public school system spans 41 ranked schools across a notably wide performance range. The city average sits at 6.4 out of 10, and 17 schools — 41% of the total — score 7 or above, giving families meaningful choice if they're willing to look beyond their default attendance zone.
El Dorado Community School leads the city with a 9.1 rating, tied at the top with Mandela International Magnet School (MIMS), a high school that stands out for combining rigorous academics with an international focus. Elementary options are particularly strong at the top end: Atalaya Elementary scores 8.9, while Carlos Gilbert Elementary and Wood-Gormley Elementary both land at 8.8. Four of the city's five highest-rated schools are elementary campuses, which matters for families with younger children — Santa Fe's strongest performing seats are concentrated in the early grades.
The 6.4 city average tells a more complicated story underneath the highlights. With 41 schools in the system and fewer than half clearing the 7-out-of-10 threshold, there's real variation from one campus to the next. The gap between the top schools and the city average is roughly three full points, so school selection in Santa Fe carries more weight than in cities where scores cluster tightly together. Parents should not assume neighborhood proximity is a reliable proxy for quality.
Practically, families moving to or within Santa Fe should identify the top-rated schools first, then work backward to understand boundary maps and magnet enrollment windows. MIMS operates as a magnet, meaning it draws from across the district rather than a fixed attendance zone — an option worth researching early since seats are competitive. The concentration of strong elementary schools in certain parts of the city may also influence neighborhood decisions for families with K–5 children, particularly given that the high-performers are not evenly distributed across Santa Fe's geography. Start your search at the campus level, not the district level.
Elementary Schools
34 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 315 students · Kindergarten–6th | 9.2 |
| 2 | 272 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.9 |
| 3 | 392 students · Pre-K–8th | 8.9 |
| 4 | 299 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.7 |
| 5 | 195 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.1 |
| 6 | 519 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.8 |
| 7 | 249 students · Kindergarten–7th | 7.7 |
| 8 | 40 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.7 |
| 9 | 164 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.6 |
| 10 | 644 students · Pre-K–8th | 7.6 |
Show all 34 elementary schools in Santa Fe
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 330 students · 7th–8th | 6.7 | ||
| 2 | 447 students · 6th–8th | 6.3 | ||
| 3 | 258 students · 7th–8th | 4.2 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Santa Fe Girls' School
Private
32 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 | ||
High Schools
14 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 301 students · 7th–12th | 9.7 |
| 2 | 396 students · 7th–12th | 8.5 |
| 3 | 120 students · 9th–12th | 7.1 |
| 4 | 356 students · 7th–12th | 6.8 |
| 5 | 342 students · 9th–12th | 6.6 |
| 6 | 284 students · 7th–12th | 6.6 |
| 7 | 1,599 students · 9th–12th | 6.6 |
| 8 | 250 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 |
| 9 | 593 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 |
| 10 | 1,376 students · 9th–12th | 5.9 |
Show all 14 high schools in Santa Fe
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 144 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.8 | ||
| 2 | 281 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.7 | ||
| 3 | 1,410 students · 4th–12th | 5.4 | ||
| 4 | 304 students · Pre-K–12th | 5.3 | ||
| 5 | 135 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.3 | ||
| Private Schools 3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Santa Fe Waldorf School
Private
198 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.1 | ||
| 2 | Fayette St Academy
Private
42 students · UG–UG | 4.9 | ||
| 3 | The Tutorial School
Private
7 students · UG–UG | — | ||
Schools in Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico · 60 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 5 ZIP codes
Median Income
$81,473
Median Home Value
$503,820
Median Rent
$1,357/mo
Population
133,507
College Educated
49%
Homeownership
73%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
11.3%
Community Profile
Santa Fe has a median household income of $81,473. It is a well-educated community where 49% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $503,820, with a median rent of $1,357/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.3%. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New Mexico
- Elementary
- 34
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 14
- Other
- 8
Resources
School Districts (14)
NM CORRECTIONS
11 schools · 14 students
NM SCH FOR THE DEAF
1 school · 144 students
NM SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS
1 school · 342 students
THE MASTERS PROGRAM
1 school · 250 students
NEW MEXICO CONNECTIONS ACADEMY
1 school · 1,410 students
MONTE DEL SOL CHARTER
1 school · 356 students
TURQUOISE TRAIL CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 656 students
TIERRA ENCANTADA CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 284 students
THRIVE COMMUNITY SCHOOL
1 school · 249 students
POJOAQUE
5 schools · 1,562 students
SANTA FE
30 schools · 11,490 students
San Ildefonso Day School
1 school · 40 students
Te Tsu Geh Oweenge Day School
1 school · 24 students
Santa Fe Indian School
1 school · 680 students
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in New Mexico
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Santa Fe, New Mexico
How many schools are in Santa Fe, New Mexico?
Santa Fe has 60 schools, including 44 public and 16 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Santa Fe, New Mexico?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Santa Fe is 6.6 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Santa Fe, New Mexico?
The top-ranked school in Santa Fe on MySchoolScout is Mandela International Magnet (mims) with a composite score of 9.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Santa Fe, New Mexico?
The top-ranked elementary school in Santa Fe on MySchoolScout is Carlos Gilbert Elementary with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Santa Fe, New Mexico?
The top-ranked middle school in Santa Fe on MySchoolScout is Santa Fe Girls' School with a composite score of 6.9/10.
What is the best high school in Santa Fe, New Mexico?
The top-ranked high school in Santa Fe on MySchoolScout is Mandela International Magnet (mims) with a composite score of 9.7/10.
How many school districts serve Santa Fe, New Mexico?
Santa Fe is served by 14 school districts: Nm Corrections, Nm Sch for the Deaf, Nm School for the Arts, The Masters Program, New Mexico Connections Academy, Monte Del Sol Charter, Turquoise Trail Charter School, Tierra Encantada Charter School, Thrive Community School, Pojoaque, Santa Fe, San Ildefonso Day School, Te Tsu Geh Oweenge Day School, Santa Fe Indian School.
What is the education level in Santa Fe, New Mexico?
According to Census data, 49% of adults in Santa Fe have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Santa Fe, New Mexico?
The median household income in Santa Fe is approximately $81,473 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Santa Fe, New Mexico?
Yes, Santa Fe has 16 private schools alongside 44 public schools. The top-rated private school is Santa Fe School for the Arts & Sciences with a score of 8.7/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Santa Fe, New Mexico?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Santa Fe is 12.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Santa Fe, New Mexico?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, New Mexico Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.