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#530 of 864 schools in NM

Belen High

High School · Belen · Belen, NM

A high school in Belen, NM where students score 4 points below what's typical for similar communities.

520 NORTH MAIN ST, Belen, NM 87002

  • Math 12% proficient (2022)
  • Reading 32% proficient (2022)
  • 78.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress7.8Very Good25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.3 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics5.8Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency12% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency32% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency22% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)26% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-4.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile41th
College Readiness5.7Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate78%
AP Participation7.8%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment2.8Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio21.3:1
District spending per student$15,218
Chronic Absenteeism39.1%

Students at Belen High score 22% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 26%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. NM average.

Math Proficiency12%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency32%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 14-year record (2009–2022), then recovered 6 points since 2019, reaching 22% in 2022.

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
26%
ELA
36%
2010
Math
40%
ELA
45%
2011
Math
38%
ELA
44%
2012
Math
28%
ELA
46%
2013
Math
31%
ELA
39%
2014
Math
8%
ELA
31%
2015
Math
10%
ELA
28%
2016
Math
6%
ELA
27%
2017
Math
6%
2018
Math
10%
ELA
23%
2019
Math
10%
ELA
23%
2020*
Math
30%
ELA
50%
2021*
Math
30%
ELA
50%
2022
Math
12%
ELA
32%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 20% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 36% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 27 test records from NM state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

85.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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

The neighborhood

Where Belen High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 9Car-Dependent
  • Bike 31Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High5,394/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Belen), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$51,537

Median home value

$183,700

Median rent

$859/mo

College educated

18.8%

Homeownership

82.1%

Poverty rate

19.6%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 87002; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs2AP courses offered
7.8% participation·State avg: 2.5 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics23sports offered
11 boys'·12 girls'·38 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

2 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Belen Infinity HighEnrollment path unverified4.79–121.1 mi123Compare →
Canon Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition6.1privateK–122.2 mi219Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Belen

Schools in district
10
Rank in district
#7 of 10
District spending per student
$15,218NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
23.5%Census SAIPE · 2024

Belen High is listed in BELEN; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Belen High

Belen High is a public high school in Belen, NM, part of Belen, serving approximately 1,044 students in grades 9th-12th with a 21.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 out of 10 and ranks #530 of 864 schools in NM. State assessment records show 20% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Belen High

What grades does Belen High serve?

Belen High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Belen High?

Belen High has an enrollment of approximately 1,044 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Belen High?

The student-teacher ratio at Belen High is 21.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Belen High rank in NM?

Belen High ranks #530 of 864 schools in NM.

What is Belen High's MySchoolScout rating?

Belen High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Belen High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Belen High has 20% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Belen High a charter school?

No, Belen High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Belen High a Title I school?

No, Belen High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Belen High?

85.4% of students at Belen High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,044
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
49
Type
regular
Setting
Small Suburb
County
Valencia County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
39.1%
4-Year Graduation
78.0%
Area population (ZIP 87002)
21,375
Area average commute
26.6 min
Area median age
45.4
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 87002; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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