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5.8 avg / 10

Central School District

School District · Shiprock, New Mexico

Students: 4,702
Teachers (FTE): 386

Avg Rating

5.8

out of 10

Schools

16

9 elem, 3 mid, 4 high

Per-Pupil Spending

$23,470

Student-Teacher Ratio

12.2:1

District shortlistschools + peers

Evaluating Central?

A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Central 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.

Judy Nelson Elementary

8.8/10

Kirtland · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.

Eva B Stokely Elementary

8.0/10

Shiprock · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.

Ojo Amarillo Elementary

6.7/10

Fruitland · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.

How this district compares

New Mexico rank

#69 of 88

districts by avg. composite

Vs. state average

-0.5

below New Mexico avg

Per-pupil spending

$23,470

+$4,499 vs New Mexico median

District size

4,702 students

Much larger than New Mexico median

The short answer

Central ranks #69 of 88 New Mexico districts by overall school rating. Central's schools with real test data average 5.8/10 across 15 schools. Its top-rated schools are Judy Nelson Elementary (8.8/10), Eva B Stokely Elementary (8.0/10), and Ojo Amarillo Elementary (6.7/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Best value · beats the odds
Judy Nelson Elementary

Rates 8.8/10 despite 67% 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 Central schools.

Top-Rated Schools in Central

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (15 of 16). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

# School Rating
1 Judy Nelson Elementary 8.8 / 10
2 Eva B Stokely Elementary 8.0 / 10
3 Ojo Amarillo Elementary 6.7 / 10
4 Kirtland Central High 6.5 / 10
5 Shiprock High 5.9 / 10
6 Mesa Elementary 5.9 / 10
7 Naschitti Elementary 5.9 / 10
8 Career Prep Alternative 5.7 / 10
9 Kirtland Middle 5.3 / 10
10 Tse Bit Ai Middle 5.1 / 10

See all 16 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

About Central

Central is a Shiprock, New Mexico school district serving 16 schools. The district educates 4,702 students with a student-teacher ratio of 12.2:1. The district invests $23,470 per student annually.

With an average rating of 5.8/10, Central demonstrates solid academic performance.

The highest-rated school in the district is Judy Nelson Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.8/10.

In standardized testing, Central students show an average math proficiency of 19.0% and ELA proficiency of 29.9%.

The district includes 9 elementary schools , 3 middle schools , and 4 high schools.

District Map

Schools in Central, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.

District Average Test Scores

Math Proficiency 19.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 29.9%
School
State
N/A

Average proficiency across all schools in Central with test data.

District Details

City
Shiprock
Total Enrollment
4,702
Teachers (FTE)
386
Child Poverty Rate
0.3%
Data Year
2023

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Central?

Central has 16 schools in total — 9 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.

What is the average rating for Central?

The average composite rating for Central is 5.8/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.

What is the per-pupil spending in Central?

Central spends $23,470 per student per year.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Central?

The average student-teacher ratio in Central is 12.2:1.

What is the top-rated school in Central?

Judy Nelson Elementary is the highest-rated school in Central with a composite score of 8.8/10.

What are the test scores in Central?

Across schools in Central with test data, the average math proficiency is 19.0% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 29.9%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.

How does Central compare to other districts in New Mexico?

Central has an average school rating of 5.8/10 across 16 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
5.8/10
Math Proficiency
19.0%
ELA Proficiency
29.9%

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 rate

Other School Districts in NM

Compare Central with neighboring districts in the state.

See all districts in NM →

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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