Average
#310 of 864 schools in NM
Top 36% in state
Capitan Elementary
Elementary School · CAPITAN
150 SOUTH FOREST AVE, Capitan, NM 88316
Enrollment
202
Student-Teacher
11.2:1
Score
6.9
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
202
Student-Teacher
11.2:1
Score
6.9
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Capitan
#2 of 3
public schools
New Mexico elementary schools
#184 of 468
In district
#2 of 3
CAPITAN
Academic performance
8.9 / 10
Exceptional
About Capitan Elementary
Capitan Elementary serves 202 students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the small community of Capitan, New Mexico. This rural public school maintains an intimate learning environment with a student-teacher ratio of 11.2:1 across its 18 full-time equivalent teachers. The school demonstrates strong overall performance, earning a 7.7 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking as the 86th best elementary school out of 874 in New Mexico, placing it in the 90th percentile statewide.
With an academic score of 8.1 out of 10, Capitan Elementary shows particular strength in English Language Arts, where 47% of students perform at proficient or above levels across grades. Mathematics presents an area with room for growth, with 32% of students achieving proficient or above status. The school serves a community where the median household income is $66,042 and the poverty rate stands at 11.6%.
About 22% of local residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, and median home values are $148,700 in the 88316 zip code area. Capitan Elementary operates in Lincoln County's rural landscape, providing education to families in this close-knit mountain community of approximately 2,289 residents.
What Parents Should Know
Located in a rural area, Capitan 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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Capitan Elementary — Students at Capitan Elementary score 40% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 24%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
93.6%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NM EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 4 test records from NM state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 4.8/10.
How Capitan Elementary Compares
See how Capitan Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 37% (2019) to 32% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 47% (2019) to 47% (2022).
Location
150 SOUTH FOREST AVE, Capitan, NM 88316
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Capitan Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. CARRIZOZO ELEMENTARY (rated 8.8/10, 18.5 miles away, in nearby Carrizozo), which scores notably higher. Another option is HONDO ELEMENTARY (rated 8.0/10, 22.0 miles away, in nearby Hondo), which scores notably higher. Additionally, TULAROSA ELEMENTARY (rated 7.4/10, 41.0 miles away, in nearby Tularosa), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Capitan, see our Capitan schools guide .
Nearby Schools
16 within 41.3 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| CAPITAN HIGH Capitan | 0.0 mi | 3.9 |
| CAPITAN MIDDLE Capitan | 0.0 mi | 8.4 |
| WHITE MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY Ruidoso | 13.6 mi | 5.3 |
| RUIDOSO MIDDLE Ruidoso | 13.7 mi | 6.1 |
| SIERRA VISTA PRIMARY Ruidoso | 13.7 mi | 6.8 |
| RUIDOSO HIGH Ruidoso | 14.1 mi | 5.2 |
| CARRIZOZO ELEMENTARY Carrizozo | 18.5 mi | 8.8 |
| CARRIZOZO HIGH Carrizozo | 18.5 mi | 6.5 |
| CARRIZOZO MIDDLE Carrizozo | 18.5 mi | 7.6 |
| Mescalero Apache School Mescalero | 23.9 mi | — |
| HONDO HIGH Hondo | 21.9 mi | 6.7 |
| HONDO ELEMENTARY Hondo | 22.0 mi | 8.0 |
| TULAROSA MIDDLE Tularosa | 41.0 mi | 7.9 |
| TULAROSA ELEMENTARY Tularosa | 41.0 mi | 7.4 |
| TULAROSA INTERMEDIATE Tularosa | 41.1 mi | 4.6 |
| TULAROSA HIGH Tularosa | 41.3 mi | 4.5 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 88316 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$67,788
Median Home Value
$164,800
Median Rent
$963/mo
Population
2,319
College Educated
25.9%
Homeownership
90.6%
Poverty Rate
8.9%
Median Age
58.1
Community Profile
The community surrounding Capitan Elementary has a median household income of $67,788. It is an area where 26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $164,800, with a median rent of $963/month. The local poverty rate of 8.9% is relatively low. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| BLOOMFIELD EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER Bloomfield, NM | 6.9 |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY Las Cruces, NM | 6.9 |
| MATHESON PARK ELEMENTARY Albuquerque, NM | 6.9 |
| DON CECILIO MARTINEZ ELEMENTARY Las Vegas, NM | 7.0 |
| MACARTHUR ELEMENTARY Albuquerque, NM | 7.0 |
| PENASCO ELEMENTARY Penasco, NM | 7.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Capitan Elementary
What grades does Capitan Elementary serve?
Capitan Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Capitan Elementary?
Capitan Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 202 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Capitan Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Capitan Elementary is 11.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Capitan Elementary rank in NM?
Capitan Elementary is ranked #310 out of 864 schools in NM.
What is Capitan Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Capitan Elementary has a composite rating of 6.9 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 Capitan Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Capitan Elementary has 34.5% math proficiency and 47.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Capitan Elementary a charter school?
No, Capitan Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Capitan Elementary a Title I school?
No, Capitan Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Capitan Elementary?
93.6% of students at Capitan 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- Elevated (863/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Capitan). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 202
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 18
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 93.6%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Lincoln County
- Phone
- (575) 354-2239
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
CAPITAN- District Enrollment
- 460
- Schools in District
- 3
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $16,953
- District Rank
- #2 of 3
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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