Very Good
#254 of 864 schools in NM
Top 29% in state
Dennis Chavez Elementary
Elementary School · BELEN
520 NORTH MAIN ST, Belen, NM 87002
Enrollment
281
Student-Teacher
13.4:1
Score
7.0
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
281
Student-Teacher
13.4:1
Score
7.0
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
New Mexico schools
#254 of 864
In Belen
#3 of 10
public schools
In district
#3 of 10
BELEN
Academic performance
8.1 / 10
Excellent
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Dennis Chavez Elementary
Elementary School in Belen · grades Pre-K – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Del Rio Academy
2.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Canon Christian Academy
3.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Dennis Chavez Elementary
Dennis Chavez Elementary is a public elementary school in Belen, NM, part of BELEN. Dennis Chavez Elementary serves approximately 281 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Dennis Chavez Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #254 of 864 schools in NM.
Structured state assessment records for Dennis Chavez Elementary show 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
- This school 7.0 · Very Good
- District avg 7.0
- NM avg 6.2
What Parents Should Know
51% of students at Dennis Chavez Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
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 23 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: 6.8/10.
How Dennis Chavez Elementary Compares
See how Dennis Chavez Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
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 8.6/10, 5.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is KATHERINE GALLEGOS ELEMENTARY (rated 8.1/10, 6.0 miles away, in nearby Los Lunas), which scores notably higher. Additionally, ST MARY'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL BELEN (rated 7.6/10, 4.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. 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 | 5.2 |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY Belen | 4.4 mi | 6.6 |
| ST MARY'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL BELEN Belen | 4.7 mi | 7.6 |
| BELEN INFINITY HIGH Belen | 4.8 mi | 4.7 |
| BELEN FAMILY SCHOOL Belen | 4.9 mi | 6.5 |
| RIO GRANDE ELEMENTARY Belen | 5.0 mi | 8.6 |
| LA MERCED ELEMENTARY Belen | 4.8 mi | 6.3 |
| BELEN MIDDLE Belen | 4.9 mi | 3.8 |
| SCHOOL OF DREAMS ACADEMY Los Lunas | 5.0 mi | 7.0 |
| VALENCIA MIDDLE SCHOOL Los Lunas | 4.3 mi | 5.5 |
| BELEN HIGH Belen | 5.0 mi | 5.7 |
| LOS LUNAS MIDDLE Los Lunas | 5.6 mi | 5.6 |
| CENTURY ALT HIGH Los Lunas | 5.5 mi | 5.5 |
| RAYMOND GABALDON ELEMENTARY Los Lunas | 5.8 mi | 6.9 |
| DESERT VIEW ELEMENTARY Los Lunas | 4.9 mi | 6.0 |
| KATHERINE GALLEGOS ELEMENTARY Los Lunas | 6.0 mi | 8.1 |
| LOS LUNAS ELEMENTARY Los Lunas | 5.9 mi | 5.8 |
| LOS LUNAS HIGH Los Lunas | 6.3 mi | 6.9 |
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
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| ALBUQUERQUE COLLEGIATE CHARTER SCHOOL Albuquerque, NM | 7.0 |
| BEN ALEXANDER ELEMENTARY Lovington, NM | 7.0 |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY Las Cruces, NM | 7.0 |
| GONZALES ELEMENTARY Santa Fe, NM | 7.0 |
| MARK TWAIN ELEMENTARY Albuquerque, NM | 7.0 |
| MCCOY AVENUE ELEMENTARY Aztec, NM | 7.0 |
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 ranks #254 of 864 schools in NM.
What is Dennis Chavez Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Dennis Chavez Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 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 Dennis Chavez Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Dennis Chavez Elementary has 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
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 
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
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 51.2%
- Phone
- (505) 966-1800
Resources & Links
District
BELEN- District Enrollment
- 3,564
- Schools in District
- 10
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $15,218
- District Rank
- #3 of 10
Other Schools in This District
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