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Average

#350 of 864 schools in NM

Top 40% in state

Columbia Elementary

Elementary School · LAS CRUCES

4555 ELKS DRIVE, Las Cruces, NM 88005

Enrollment

198

Student-Teacher

9.4:1

Score

6.6

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

New Mexico schools

#350 of 864

In Las Cruces

#20 of 45

public schools

In district

#16 of 39

LAS CRUCES

School environment

8.4 / 10

Excellent

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Columbia Elementary

6.6/10

Elementary School in Las Cruces · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Vista Middle

6.9/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Dona Ana Elementary

6.8/10

1.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Columbia Elementary

Columbia Elementary is a public elementary school in Las Cruces, NM, part of LAS CRUCES. Columbia Elementary serves approximately 198 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Columbia Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.6 out of 10 and ranks #350 of 864 schools in NM.

Structured state assessment records for Columbia Elementary show 25% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 31% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.3 pts above district
  • This school 6.6 · Average
  • District avg 6.3
  • NM avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

At 198 students, Columbia Elementary is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

At 9.4:1 students to teachers, Columbia Elementary sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.6Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-1.82 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics5.5Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency12% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency27% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency20% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)22% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-2.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile37th
Resources & Environment8.4Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,965
Chronic Absenteeism28.8%

Columbia Elementary — Students at Columbia Elementary score 20% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 22%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

99.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NM EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 24.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 30.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 23 test records from NM state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
33%
ELA
42%
2010
Math
34%
ELA
41%
2011
Math
31%
ELA
43%
2012
Math
35%
ELA
35%
2013
Math
42%
ELA
40%
2014
Math
19%
ELA
21%
2015
Math
18%
ELA
18%
2016
Math
16%
ELA
23%
2017
Math
24%
2018
Math
16%
ELA
25%
2019
Math
16%
ELA
25%
2022
Math
12%
ELA
27%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.6/10.

How Columbia Elementary Compares

See how Columbia Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.6/10
60th percentile in NM
Academic
5.5/10
Average
Growth
6.6/10
Average
Environment
8.4/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
100%
Teaching Staff
9:1 student-teacher ratio
21 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
28.8%

Location

4555 ELKS DRIVE, Las Cruces, NM 88005

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Columbia Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. LAS CRUCES CATHOLIC SCHOOL (rated 8.3/10, 3.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is JORNADA ELEMENTARY (rated 7.8/10, 2.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, SONOMA ELEMENTARY (rated 7.3/10, 3.4 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Las Cruces, see our Las Cruces schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.3 mi
School Distance Rating
VISTA MIDDLE Las Cruces 0.3 mi 6.9
DONA ANA ELEMENTARY Las Cruces 1.2 mi 6.8
JORNADA ELEMENTARY Las Cruces 2.0 mi 7.8
EAST PICACHO ELEMENTARY Las Cruces 1.9 mi 6.5
RAICES DEL SABER XINACHTLI COMMUNITY Las Cruces 3.1 mi 6.3
LOMA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY Las Cruces 3.2 mi 5.3
MAYFIELD HIGH Las Cruces 3.4 mi 5.1
HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY Las Cruces 2.9 mi 6.5
CAMINO REAL MIDDLE Las Cruces 3.1 mi 7.5
LAS CRUCES CATHOLIC SCHOOL Las Cruces 3.6 mi 8.3
ALAMEDA ELEMENTARY Las Cruces 3.6 mi 4.2
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON Las Cruces 3.7 mi 4.8
MISSION LUTHERAN SCHOOL Las Cruces 3.5 mi
EXPLORE ACADEMY LAS CRUCES Las Cruces 3.7 mi 6.3
SONOMA ELEMENTARY Las Cruces 3.4 mi 7.3
SIERRA MIDDLE Las Cruces 3.9 mi 5.7
J PAUL TAYLOR ACADEMY Las Cruces 4.2 mi 7.1
MAC ARTHUR ELEMENTARY Las Cruces 4.2 mi 4.7
PICACHO MIDDLE Las Cruces 4.2 mi 5.5
ALMA D'ARTE CHARTER Las Cruces 4.3 mi 6.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 88005 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$51,770

Median Home Value

$207,100

Median Rent

$899/mo

Population

27,017

College Educated

31%

Homeownership

61.1%

Avg Commute

21.4 min

Poverty Rate

20.9%

Median Age

37.3

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
HAGERMAN ELEMENTARY Hagerman, NM 6.6
HOLY GHOST CATHOLIC SCHOOL Albuquerque, NM 6.6
RATON INTERMEDIATE Raton, NM 6.6
SANTA ROSA ELEMENTARY Santa Rosa, NM 6.6
TEXICO ELEMENTARY Texico, NM 6.6
BELEN FAMILY SCHOOL Belen, NM 6.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Columbia Elementary

What grades does Columbia Elementary serve?

Columbia Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Columbia Elementary?

Columbia Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 198 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Columbia Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Columbia Elementary is 9.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Columbia Elementary rank in NM?

Columbia Elementary ranks #350 of 864 schools in NM.

What is Columbia Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Columbia Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.6 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 Columbia Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Columbia Elementary has 25% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 31% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Columbia Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Columbia Elementary a Title I school?

No, Columbia Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Columbia Elementary?

99.5% of students at Columbia 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
4 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
25 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
198
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
21
Free/Reduced Lunch
99.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
Doña Ana County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
28.8%

District

LAS CRUCES
District Enrollment
23,404
Schools in District
39
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,965
District Rank
#16 of 39

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