Very Good
#263 of 864 schools in NM
Top 30% in state
Desert Hills Elementary
Elementary School · LAS CRUCES
505 SOUTH MAIN SUITE 249, Las Cruces, NM 88001
Enrollment
539
Student-Teacher
14.6:1
Score
7.0
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
539
Student-Teacher
14.6:1
Score
7.0
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
New Mexico schools
#263 of 864
In Las Cruces
#14 of 45
public schools
In district
#12 of 39
LAS CRUCES
Academic performance
9.3 / 10
Excellent
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Desert Hills Elementary
Elementary School in Las Cruces · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Mission Lutheran School
1.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Explore Academy Las Cruces
1.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Desert Hills Elementary
Desert Hills Elementary is a public elementary school in Las Cruces, NM, part of LAS CRUCES. Desert Hills Elementary serves approximately 539 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Desert Hills Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #263 of 864 schools in NM.
Structured state assessment records for Desert Hills Elementary show 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
- This school 7.0 · Very Good
- District avg 6.3
- NM avg 6.2
What Parents Should Know
33% of students at Desert Hills 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
Desert Hills Elementary — Students at Desert Hills Elementary score 45% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 24%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
92.8%
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
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 5.7/10.
How Desert Hills Elementary Compares
See how Desert Hills 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
505 SOUTH MAIN SUITE 249, Las Cruces, NM 88001
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Desert Hills Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. SONOMA ELEMENTARY (rated 7.3/10, 3.0 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is CONLEE ELEMENTARY (rated 7.0/10, 2.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, UNIVERSITY HILLS ELEMENTARY (rated 6.9/10, 2.6 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Las Cruces, see our Las Cruces schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.8 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| MISSION LUTHERAN SCHOOL Las Cruces | 1.1 mi | — |
| EXPLORE ACADEMY LAS CRUCES Las Cruces | 1.1 mi | 6.3 |
| HILLRISE ELEMENTARY Las Cruces | 1.6 mi | 4.9 |
| SIERRA MIDDLE Las Cruces | 1.5 mi | 5.7 |
| MESILLA VALLEY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY Las Cruces | 1.7 mi | 9.0 |
| LYNN MIDDLE Las Cruces | 1.7 mi | 5.2 |
| CAMINO REAL MIDDLE Las Cruces | 1.9 mi | 7.5 |
| HERMOSA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY Las Cruces | 1.8 mi | 6.2 |
| DESERT SPRINGS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Las Curces | 2.0 mi | 7.3 |
| LOMA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY Las Cruces | 1.9 mi | 5.3 |
| CONLEE ELEMENTARY Las Cruces | 2.2 mi | 7.0 |
| CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL Las Cruces | 2.1 mi | 7.1 |
| BOOKER T. WASHINGTON Las Cruces | 2.2 mi | 4.8 |
| LAS MONTANAS CHARTER Las Cruces | 2.5 mi | 6.8 |
| UNIVERSITY HILLS ELEMENTARY Las Cruces | 2.6 mi | 6.9 |
| VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY Las Cruces | 2.6 mi | 5.6 |
| COLLEGE HEIGHTS KINDERGARTEN Las Cruces | 2.8 mi | 4.8 |
| SONOMA ELEMENTARY Las Cruces | 3.0 mi | 7.3 |
| HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY Las Cruces | 3.0 mi | 6.5 |
| NEW AMERICA SCHOOL - LAS CRUCES Las Cruces | 2.8 mi | 4.6 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 88001 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$32,978
Median Home Value
$158,300
Median Rent
$797/mo
Population
38,972
College Educated
28.6%
Homeownership
40.9%
Avg Commute
16.5 min
Poverty Rate
38%
Median Age
27.4
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| BATAAN ELEMENTARY Deming, NM | 7.0 |
| CONLEE ELEMENTARY Las Cruces, NM | 7.0 |
| MCCOY AVENUE ELEMENTARY Aztec, NM | 7.0 |
| DEL NORTE ELEMENTARY Roswell, NM | 6.9 |
| EDMUND G ROSS ELEMENTARY Albuquerque, NM | 7.1 |
| LADERA DEL NORTE ELEMENTARY Farmington, NM | 7.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Desert Hills Elementary
What grades does Desert Hills Elementary serve?
Desert Hills Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Desert Hills Elementary?
Desert Hills Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 539 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Hills Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Hills Elementary is 14.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Desert Hills Elementary rank in NM?
Desert Hills Elementary ranks #263 of 864 schools in NM.
What is Desert Hills Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Desert Hills 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 Desert Hills Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Desert Hills Elementary has 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Desert Hills Elementary a charter school?
No, Desert Hills Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Desert Hills Elementary a Title I school?
No, Desert Hills Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Desert Hills Elementary?
92.8% of students at Desert Hills 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 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 539
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 37
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 92.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Doña Ana County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 32.7%
- Phone
- (575) 527-9619
Resources & Links
District
LAS CRUCES- District Enrollment
- 23,404
- Schools in District
- 39
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,965
- District Rank
- #12 of 39
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