Las Cruces School District
School District · Las Cruces, New Mexico
Avg Rating
6.3
out of 10
Schools
39
25 elem, 8 mid, 6 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,965
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.9:1
Avg Rating
6.3
out of 10
Schools
39
25 elem, 8 mid, 6 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,965
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.9:1
Evaluating Las Cruces?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Las Cruces 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.
White Sands Elementary
Las Cruces · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy
Las Cruces · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Tombaugh Elementary
Las Cruces · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
New Mexico rank
#49 of 88
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.1
above New Mexico avg
Per-pupil spending
$14,965
$4,006 vs New Mexico median
District size
23,404 students
Much larger than New Mexico median
The short answer
Las Cruces ranks #49 of 88 New Mexico districts by overall school rating. Las Cruces's schools with real test data average 6.3/10 across 38 schools. Its top-rated schools are White Sands Elementary (9.3/10), Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy (9.0/10), and Tombaugh Elementary (7.9/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 9.3/10 despite 98% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.0 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 Las Cruces schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Las Cruces
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (38 of 39). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | White Sands Elementary | 9.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy | 9.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Tombaugh Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Jornada Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Arrowhead Park Early College High School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Camino Real Middle | 7.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Sonoma Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Mesa Middle | 7.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Centennial High School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Desert Hills Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
See all 39 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Las Cruces
Las Cruces is a Las Cruces, New Mexico school district serving 39 schools. The district educates 23,404 students with a student-teacher ratio of 14.9:1. The district invests $14,965 per student annually.
With an average rating of 6.3/10, Las Cruces demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is White Sands Elementary, which has a composite score of 9.3/10.
In standardized testing, Las Cruces students show an average math proficiency of 30.5% and ELA proficiency of 39.3%.
The district includes 25 elementary schools , 8 middle schools , and 6 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Las Cruces, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Las Cruces with test data.
Schools in Las Cruces
39 schools Elementary Schools 25
Middle Schools 8
District Details
- State
- New Mexico
- City
- Las Cruces
- Total Enrollment
- 23,404
- Teachers (FTE)
- 1,571
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.3%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Las Cruces?
Las Cruces has 39 schools in total — 25 elementary, 8 middle, and 6 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Las Cruces?
The average composite rating for Las Cruces is 6.3/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Las Cruces?
Las Cruces spends $14,965 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Las Cruces?
The average student-teacher ratio in Las Cruces is 14.9:1.
What is the top-rated school in Las Cruces?
White Sands Elementary is the highest-rated school in Las Cruces with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What are the test scores in Las Cruces?
Across schools in Las Cruces with test data, the average math proficiency is 30.5% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 39.3%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Las Cruces compare to other districts in New Mexico?
Las Cruces has an average school rating of 6.3/10 across 39 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
- 30.5%
- ELA Proficiency
- 39.3%
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 Las Cruces with neighboring districts in the state.
- Albuquerque (174)
- 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)
- 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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