Very Good
#248 of 864 schools in NM
Top 29% in state
Bluewater Elementary
Elementary School · GRANTS
PO BOX 8, Grants, NM 87020
Enrollment
68
Student-Teacher
8.5:1
Score
7.3
Grades
Kindergarten – 6th
Enrollment
68
Student-Teacher
8.5:1
Score
7.3
Grades
Kindergarten – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Grants
#5 of 12
public schools
New Mexico elementary schools
#155 of 468
In district
#5 of 12
GRANTS
Academic performance
9.5 / 10
Exceptional
About Bluewater Elementary
Bluewater Elementary stands out as an exceptional rural school serving 68 students in grades K-6 in Grants, New Mexico. Despite its small size, this public elementary school has earned impressive recognition, ranking #29 out of 874 schools statewide and placing in the 97th percentile with a strong MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10. The school's intimate learning environment features just 8 full-time teachers, creating an outstanding 8.5:1 student-teacher ratio that allows for personalized attention and close relationships between educators and students.
Academically, Bluewater Elementary demonstrates solid performance with 54% of students achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts and 44% in mathematics across all grade levels. Located in the rural community of Grants in Cibola County, the school serves families in an area where the median household income is $57,051 and median home values average $153,400. The surrounding ZIP code of 87020 is home to approximately 10,555 residents, with 19% holding bachelor's degrees or higher, though the community faces economic challenges with a poverty rate of 28.4%.
Bluewater Elementary offers students the advantages of small-school learning in New Mexico's high desert landscape, where the rural setting provides a close-knit educational community.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 68 students, Bluewater Elementary is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
With a student-teacher ratio of 8.5:1, Bluewater Elementary offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.
Located in a rural area, Bluewater Elementary may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Bluewater Elementary — Students at Bluewater Elementary score 50% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 22%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
100%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NM EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 test records from NM state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 5.4/10.
How Bluewater Elementary Compares
See how Bluewater Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 44.5% (2019) to 44.5% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 54.5% (2019) to 54.5% (2022).
Location
PO BOX 8, Grants, NM 87020
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Bluewater Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. ST BONAVENTURE SCHOOL (rated 8.8/10, 17.1 miles away, in nearby Thoreau), which scores notably higher. Another option is SAN RAFAEL ELEMENTARY (rated 8.3/10, 11.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Haak'u Community Academy (rated 7.7/10, 25.3 miles away, in nearby Pueblo Of Acoma), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Grants, see our Grants schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 29.4 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| MILAN ELEMENTARY Grants | 7.2 mi | 7.2 |
| Baca/Dlo'ay Azhi Community School Prewitt | 8.8 mi | 7.6 |
| GCCS EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL Grants | 9.9 mi | 6.7 |
| GRANTS HIGH Grants | 10.0 mi | 4.1 |
| SAN RAFAEL ELEMENTARY Grants | 11.1 mi | 8.3 |
| ST TERESA OF AVILA CATHOLIC SCHOOL Grants | 10.6 mi | 5.5 |
| MESA VIEW ELEMENTARY Grants | 10.6 mi | 6.0 |
| MOUNT TAYLOR ELEMENTARY Grants | 10.8 mi | 7.4 |
| LOS ALAMITOS MIDDLE Grants | 11.2 mi | 6.8 |
| WESTERN NM CORRECTIONS Grants | 12.1 mi | — |
| ST BONAVENTURE SCHOOL Thoreau | 17.1 mi | 8.8 |
| THOREAU ELEMENTARY Thoreau | 17.2 mi | 4.5 |
| THOREAU MIDDLE Thoreau | 18.1 mi | 3.8 |
| THOREAU HIGH Thoreau | 18.1 mi | 4.1 |
| Dibe Yazhi Habitiin Olta' Inc. Crownpoint | 22.0 mi | 5.2 |
| ST JOSEPH MISSION SCHOOL San Fidel | 24.6 mi | 3.5 |
| Haak'u Community Academy Pueblo Of Acoma | 25.3 mi | 7.7 |
| CROWNPOINT ELEMENTARY Crownpoint | 30.8 mi | 7.7 |
| T'iis Ts'ozi Bi'Olta' Community School Crownpoint | 31.4 mi | 4.2 |
| Mariano Lake Community School Crownpoint | 29.4 mi | 6.1 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 87020 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$67,511
Median Home Value
$154,900
Median Rent
$741/mo
Population
11,874
College Educated
23.1%
Homeownership
63.9%
Poverty Rate
25.4%
Median Age
37.5
Community Profile
The community surrounding Bluewater Elementary has a median household income of $67,511. It is a community where 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $154,900, with a median rent of $741/month. The area has a poverty rate of 25.4%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| ALBUQUERQUE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Albuquerque, NM | 7.3 |
| MAY CENTER FOR LEARNING Santa Fe, NM | 7.2 |
| HOLY CHILD CATHOLIC SCHOOL Tijeras, NM | 7.4 |
| MOUNTAIN VIEW PRIVATE SCHOOL Albuquerque, NM | 7.4 |
| ROOTS & WINGS COMMUNITY Questa, NM | 7.4 |
| Tohaali' Community School Newcomb, NM | 7.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Bluewater Elementary
What grades does Bluewater Elementary serve?
Bluewater Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
How many students attend Bluewater Elementary?
Bluewater Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 68 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bluewater Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Bluewater Elementary is 8.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Bluewater Elementary rank in NM?
Bluewater Elementary is ranked #248 out of 864 schools in NM.
What is Bluewater Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Bluewater Elementary has a composite rating of 7.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Bluewater Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Bluewater Elementary has 33.0% math proficiency and 59.5% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Bluewater Elementary a charter school?
No, Bluewater Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Bluewater Elementary a Title I school?
No, Bluewater Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Bluewater Elementary?
100.0% of students at Bluewater Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
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Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Grants). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 6th
- Enrollment
- 68
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 8.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 8
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 100.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Cibola County
- Phone
- (505) 285-2694
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
GRANTS- District Enrollment
- 3,240
- Schools in District
- 12
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $20,276
- District Rank
- #5 of 12
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
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