Excellent
#68 of 864 schools in NM
Top 8% in state
Dennis Chavez Elementary
Elementary School · BELEN
520 NORTH MAIN ST, Belen, NM 87002
Enrollment
281
Student-Teacher
13.4:1
Score
8.4
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
281
Student-Teacher
13.4:1
Score
8.4
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Belen
#2 of 10
public schools
New Mexico elementary schools
#44 of 468
In district
#2 of 10
BELEN
Academic growth
9.3 / 10
Exceptional
About Dennis Chavez Elementary
Dennis Chavez Elementary is a public elementary school in Belen, NM, part of the BELEN. The school serves approximately 281 students in grades Pre-K – 6th with a student-teacher ratio of 13.4:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.4/10, placing it in the 92.2th percentile among NM schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 27% proficiency in math and 35% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.3/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $51,537, where 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a small suburban setting.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Dennis Chavez Elementary — Students at Dennis Chavez Elementary score 37% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
61.2%
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
↑ ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.3/10.
How Dennis Chavez Elementary Compares
See how Dennis Chavez Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 17% (2019) to 37% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 32% (2019) to 37% (2022).
Location
520 NORTH MAIN ST, Belen, NM 87002
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Dennis Chavez Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. RIO GRANDE ELEMENTARY (rated 9.0/10, 5.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is ST MARY'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL BELEN (rated 7.7/10, 4.7 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, BELEN FAMILY SCHOOL (rated 7.7/10, 4.9 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Belen, see our Belen schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 6.3 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| DEL RIO ACADEMY Los Lunas | 2.6 mi | 3.4 |
| CANON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Belen | 3.0 mi | 6.1 |
| TOME ELEMENTARY Los Lunas | 3.5 mi | 6.3 |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY Belen | 4.4 mi | 6.6 |
| ST MARY'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL BELEN Belen | 4.7 mi | 7.7 |
| BELEN INFINITY HIGH Belen | 4.8 mi | 5.2 |
| BELEN FAMILY SCHOOL Belen | 4.9 mi | 7.7 |
| RIO GRANDE ELEMENTARY Belen | 5.0 mi | 9.0 |
| LA MERCED ELEMENTARY Belen | 4.8 mi | 5.3 |
| BELEN MIDDLE Belen | 4.9 mi | 4.6 |
| SCHOOL OF DREAMS ACADEMY Los Lunas | 5.0 mi | 5.8 |
| VALENCIA MIDDLE SCHOOL Los Lunas | 4.3 mi | 5.9 |
| BELEN HIGH Belen | 5.0 mi | 5.0 |
| LOS LUNAS MIDDLE Los Lunas | 5.6 mi | 5.1 |
| CENTURY ALT HIGH Los Lunas | 5.5 mi | 4.9 |
| RAYMOND GABALDON ELEMENTARY Los Lunas | 5.8 mi | 6.9 |
| DESERT VIEW ELEMENTARY Los Lunas | 4.9 mi | 5.2 |
| KATHERINE GALLEGOS ELEMENTARY Los Lunas | 6.0 mi | 7.7 |
| LOS LUNAS ELEMENTARY Los Lunas | 5.9 mi | 6.8 |
| LOS LUNAS HIGH Los Lunas | 6.3 mi | 6.8 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 87002 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$51,537
Median Home Value
$183,700
Median Rent
$859/mo
Population
21,375
College Educated
18.8%
Homeownership
82.1%
Avg Commute
26.6 min
Poverty Rate
19.6%
Median Age
45.4
Community Profile
The community surrounding Dennis Chavez Elementary has a median household income of $51,537. It is a community where 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $183,700, with a median rent of $859/month. The area has a poverty rate of 19.6%. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| CORONADO ELEMENTARY Albuquerque, NM | 8.4 |
| RATON INTERMEDIATE Raton, NM | 8.4 |
| WHITE SANDS ELEMENTARY Las Cruces, NM | 8.4 |
| WOOD-GORMLEY ELEMENTARY Santa Fe, NM | 8.4 |
| CARLOS GILBERT ELEMENTARY Santa Fe, NM | 8.3 |
| J PAUL TAYLOR ACADEMY Las Cruces, NM | 8.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Dennis Chavez Elementary
What grades does Dennis Chavez Elementary serve?
Dennis Chavez Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Dennis Chavez Elementary?
Dennis Chavez Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 281 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dennis Chavez Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Dennis Chavez Elementary is 13.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Dennis Chavez Elementary rank in NM?
Dennis Chavez Elementary is ranked #68 out of 864 schools in NM.
What is Dennis Chavez Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Dennis Chavez Elementary has a composite rating of 8.4 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 Dennis Chavez Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Dennis Chavez Elementary has 27.0% math proficiency and 34.5% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Dennis Chavez Elementary a charter school?
No, Dennis Chavez Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Dennis Chavez Elementary a Title I school?
No, Dennis Chavez Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Dennis Chavez Elementary?
61.2% of students at Dennis Chavez 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
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Belen). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 281
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 21
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 61.2%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small Suburb
- County
- Valencia County
- Phone
- (505) 966-1800
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
BELEN- District Enrollment
- 3,564
- Schools in District
- 10
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $15,218
- District Rank
- #2 of 10
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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