Belen School District
School District · Belen, New Mexico
Avg Rating
6.3
out of 10
Schools
10
6 elem, 2 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
3,564
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
Avg Rating
6.3
out of 10
Schools
10
6 elem, 2 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
3,564
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
Evaluating Belen?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Belen as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Gil Sanchez Elementary
Belen · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Rio Grande Elementary
Belen · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Dennis Chavez Elementary
Belen · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
New Mexico rank
#48 of 88
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.1
above New Mexico avg
Per-pupil spending
$15,218
$3,753 vs New Mexico median
District size
3,564 students
Much larger than New Mexico median
The short answer
Belen ranks #48 of 88 New Mexico districts by overall school rating. Belen's schools with real test data average 6.3/10 across 10 schools. Its top-rated schools are Gil Sanchez Elementary (8.8/10), Rio Grande Elementary (8.6/10), and Dennis Chavez Elementary (7.0/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.6/10 despite 100% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.8 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 Belen schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Belen
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (10 of 10). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gil Sanchez Elementary | 8.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Rio Grande Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Dennis Chavez Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Central Elementary | 6.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Belen Family School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 6 | La Merced Elementary | 6.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Belen High | 5.7 / 10 |
| 8 | La Promesa Elementary | 5.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Belen Infinity High | 4.7 / 10 |
| 10 | Belen Middle | 3.8 / 10 |
See all 10 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Belen
Belen is a Belen, New Mexico school district serving 10 schools.The district educates 3,564 students with a student-teacher ratio of 16.1:1. District-level spending was $15,218 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.3/10, Belen demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Gil Sanchez Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.8/10.
In standardized testing, Belen students show an average math proficiency of 27.8% and ELA proficiency of 35.4%.
The district includes 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Belen, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Belen with test data.
Schools in Belen
10 schoolsDistrict Details
- State
- New Mexico
- City
- Belen
- Total Enrollment
- 3,564
- Teachers (FTE)
- 221
- District spending per student
- $15,218NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 23.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Belen?
Belen has 10 schools in total — 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Belen?
The average composite rating for Belen is 6.3/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Belen?
Belen's district-level spending was $15,218 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Belen?
The average student-teacher ratio in Belen is 16.1:1.
What is the top-rated school in Belen?
Gil Sanchez Elementary is the highest-rated school in Belen with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What are the test scores in Belen?
Across schools in Belen with test data, the average math proficiency is 27.8% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 35.4%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Belen compare to other districts in New Mexico?
Belen has an average school rating of 6.3/10 across 10 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in New Mexico by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.3/10
- Math Proficiency
- 27.8%
- ELA Proficiency
- 35.4%
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 rateOther School Districts in NM
Compare Belen with neighboring districts in the state.
- Albuquerque (174)
- Las Cruces (39)
- Gallup (33)
- Santa Fe (30)
- Gadsden (28)
- Roswell (22)
- Rio Rancho (21)
- Farmington (20)
- Clovis (18)
- Hobbs (18)
- Central (17)
- Los Lunas (16)
- Alamogordo (15)
- Carlsbad (14)
- Deming (13)
- Espanola (13)
- Grants (12)
- Bernalillo (11)
- Nm Corrections (11)
- Artesia (10)
- Lovington (10)
- West Las Vegas (10)
- Silver City (9)
- Taos (9)
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.
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