Very Good
#285 of 864 schools in NM
Top 33% in state
Gil Sanchez Elementary
Elementary School · BELEN
520 NORTH MAIN ST, Belen, NM 87002
Enrollment
304
Student-Teacher
13.8:1
Score
7.0
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
304
Student-Teacher
13.8:1
Score
7.0
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Belen
#4 of 10
public schools
New Mexico elementary schools
#167 of 468
In district
#4 of 10
BELEN
Academic performance
9.5 / 10
Exceptional
About Gil Sanchez Elementary
Gil Sanchez Elementary serves 304 students in prekindergarten through sixth grade in Belen, New Mexico. This regular public school operates with 22 full-time equivalent teachers, maintaining a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.8 to 1 that allows for more individualized attention in the classroom. The school demonstrates strong academic performance, earning a 7.9 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking 61st among New Mexico's 874 elementary schools, placing it in the 93rd percentile statewide.
Gil Sanchez Elementary achieves particularly solid results in core subjects, with 57% of students performing at proficient or above levels in mathematics and 52% reaching proficiency in English Language Arts and reading across all grade levels. Located on North Main Street in Valencia County, the school serves a community where the median household income is $50,655 and median home values average $152,400. About 21% of area residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, while 18.6% of families live below the poverty line, reflecting the diverse socioeconomic makeup of the student body.
Gil Sanchez Elementary sits in a rural setting near the town of Belen, providing students with a close-knit school environment while maintaining access to broader community resources.
What Parents Should Know
Located in a rural area, Gil Sanchez 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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Gil Sanchez Elementary — Students at Gil Sanchez Elementary score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 37%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
49.3%
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: 5.8/10.
How Gil Sanchez Elementary Compares
See how Gil Sanchez Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 57% (2019) to 57% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 52% (2019) to 52% (2022).
Location
520 NORTH MAIN ST, Belen, NM 87002
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Gil Sanchez Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. RIO GRANDE ELEMENTARY (rated 9.0/10, 3.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is DENNIS CHAVEZ ELEMENTARY (rated 8.4/10, 8.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, BELEN FAMILY SCHOOL (rated 7.7/10, 3.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Belen, see our Belen schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 13.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| RIO GRANDE ELEMENTARY Belen | 3.2 mi | 9.0 |
| BELEN FAMILY SCHOOL Belen | 3.3 mi | 7.7 |
| BELEN MIDDLE Belen | 3.4 mi | 4.6 |
| BELEN INFINITY HIGH Belen | 3.5 mi | 5.2 |
| ST MARY'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL BELEN Belen | 3.8 mi | 7.7 |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY Belen | 4.0 mi | 6.6 |
| BELEN HIGH Belen | 3.9 mi | 5.0 |
| LA MERCED ELEMENTARY Belen | 4.3 mi | 5.3 |
| CANON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Belen | 5.2 mi | 6.1 |
| DEL RIO ACADEMY Los Lunas | 6.0 mi | 3.4 |
| DENNIS CHAVEZ ELEMENTARY Belen | 8.2 mi | 8.4 |
| TOME ELEMENTARY Los Lunas | 9.4 mi | 6.3 |
| VALENCIA MIDDLE SCHOOL Los Lunas | 9.8 mi | 5.9 |
| DESERT VIEW ELEMENTARY Los Lunas | 10.3 mi | 5.2 |
| LA PROMESA ELEMENTARY Belen | 11.2 mi | 6.2 |
| VALENCIA HIGH Los Lunas | 11.0 mi | 6.2 |
| SCHOOL OF DREAMS ACADEMY Los Lunas | 13.1 mi | 5.8 |
| CENTURY ALT HIGH Los Lunas | 13.4 mi | 4.9 |
| LOS LUNAS MIDDLE Los Lunas | 13.7 mi | 5.1 |
| RAYMOND GABALDON ELEMENTARY Los Lunas | 13.9 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
Community Profile
The community surrounding Gil Sanchez 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 |
|---|---|
| AMY BIEHL COMMUNITY SCHOOL AT RANCHO VIEJO Santa Fe, NM | 7.0 |
| DON CECILIO MARTINEZ ELEMENTARY Las Vegas, NM | 7.0 |
| ENOS GARCIA ELEMENTARY Taos, NM | 7.0 |
| LA UNION ELEMENTARY Anthony, NM | 7.0 |
| MACARTHUR ELEMENTARY Albuquerque, NM | 7.0 |
| TOHATCHI ELEMENTARY Tohatchi, NM | 7.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Gil Sanchez Elementary
What grades does Gil Sanchez Elementary serve?
Gil Sanchez Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Gil Sanchez Elementary?
Gil Sanchez Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 304 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gil Sanchez Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Gil Sanchez Elementary is 13.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Gil Sanchez Elementary rank in NM?
Gil Sanchez Elementary is ranked #285 out of 864 schools in NM.
What is Gil Sanchez Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Gil Sanchez Elementary has a composite rating of 7.0 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 Gil Sanchez Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Gil Sanchez Elementary has 57.0% math proficiency and 52.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Gil Sanchez Elementary a charter school?
No, Gil Sanchez Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Gil Sanchez Elementary a Title I school?
No, Gil Sanchez Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Gil Sanchez Elementary?
49.3% of students at Gil Sanchez 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
- High (5,394/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Belen). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 304
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 22
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 49.3%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Valencia County
- Phone
- (505) 966-1900
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
BELEN- District Enrollment
- 3,564
- Schools in District
- 10
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $15,218
- District Rank
- #4 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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