Carlsbad School District
School District · Carlsbad, New Mexico
Avg Rating
5.3
out of 10
Schools
13
6 elem, 2 mid, 2 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,304
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.2:1
Avg Rating
5.3
out of 10
Schools
13
6 elem, 2 mid, 2 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,304
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.2:1
Evaluating Carlsbad?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Carlsbad 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.
Ocotillo Elementary
Carlsbad · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Carlsbad Early College High
Carlsbad · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Desert Willow Elementary
Carlsbad · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
New Mexico rank
#82 of 88
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.9
below New Mexico avg
Per-pupil spending
$13,304
$5,667 vs New Mexico median
District size
7,343 students
Much larger than New Mexico median
The short answer
Carlsbad ranks #82 of 88 New Mexico districts by overall school rating. Carlsbad's schools with real test data average 5.5/10 across 10 schools. Its top-rated schools are Ocotillo Elementary (8.2/10), Carlsbad Early College High (8.2/10), and Desert Willow Elementary (7.5/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.2/10 despite 35% 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 Carlsbad schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Carlsbad
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (10 of 13). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ocotillo Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Carlsbad Early College High | 8.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Desert Willow Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Monterrey Elementary | 6.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Jefferson Montessori | 5.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Carlsbad Sixth Grade Academy - Alta Vista Campus | 5.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Sunset Elementary | 5.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Carlsbad Intermediate School - Pr Leyva Campus | 3.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Carlsbad High | 3.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Carlsbad Enrichment Center | 2.4 / 10 |
See all 13 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Carlsbad
Carlsbad is a Carlsbad, New Mexico school district serving 13 schools. The district educates 7,343 students with a student-teacher ratio of 18.2:1. The district invests $13,304 per student annually.
With an average rating of 5.3/10, Carlsbad demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Carlsbad Early College High, which has a composite score of 8.2/10.
In standardized testing, Carlsbad students show an average math proficiency of 30.9% and ELA proficiency of 42.5%.
The district includes 6 elementary schools , 2 middle schools , and 2 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Carlsbad, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Carlsbad with test data.
Schools in Carlsbad
13 schools Elementary Schools 6
Middle Schools 2
High Schools 2
District Details
- State
- New Mexico
- City
- Carlsbad
- Total Enrollment
- 7,343
- Teachers (FTE)
- 404
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.2%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Carlsbad?
Carlsbad has 13 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 Carlsbad?
The average composite rating for Carlsbad is 5.3/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Carlsbad?
Carlsbad spends $13,304 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Carlsbad?
The average student-teacher ratio in Carlsbad is 18.2:1.
What is the top-rated school in Carlsbad?
Carlsbad Early College High is the highest-rated school in Carlsbad with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What are the test scores in Carlsbad?
Across schools in Carlsbad with test data, the average math proficiency is 30.9% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 42.5%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Carlsbad compare to other districts in New Mexico?
Carlsbad has an average school rating of 5.3/10 across 13 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
- 5.3/10
- Math Proficiency
- 30.9%
- ELA Proficiency
- 42.5%
Resources
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 Carlsbad 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)
- Deming (13)
- Espanola (13)
- Grants (12)
- Nm Corrections (11)
- Bernalillo (11)
- Artesia (10)
- Belen (10)
- West Las Vegas (10)
- Lovington (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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