Average
#562 of 864 schools in NM
Maxwell Elementary
Elementary School · MAXWELL
PO BOX 275, Maxwell, NM 87728
Enrollment
50
Student-Teacher
8.3:1
Score
5.7
Grades
Kindergarten – 6th
Enrollment
50
Student-Teacher
8.3:1
Score
5.7
Grades
Kindergarten – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Maxwell
#2 of 2
public schools
New Mexico elementary schools
#307 of 468
In district
#2 of 2
MAXWELL
Academic performance
9.7 / 10
Exceptional
About Maxwell Elementary
Maxwell Elementary stands as an exceptional small school serving 50 students from kindergarten through sixth grade in the remote rural community of Maxwell, New Mexico. With just 6 full-time teachers, the school maintains an impressive student-teacher ratio of 8.3:1, allowing for highly personalized attention and instruction. The school's academic performance is truly outstanding, earning a MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10 and ranking 18th among all 874 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 98th percentile.
Students demonstrate strong academic achievement with 54% scoring proficient or above in both English Language Arts and mathematics across all grade levels. This remarkable academic success occurs within a tight-knit rural community in Colfax County, where the median household income is $40,833 and homes average $85,200 in value. The area maintains a low poverty rate of 7.3%, though only 13% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, making the school's high performance particularly noteworthy.
Maxwell Elementary proves that excellent education can flourish in small, rural settings where dedicated teachers can focus intensively on each student's growth and development. The school serves as an educational cornerstone in this remote New Mexico community of just over 600 residents.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 50 students, Maxwell Elementary is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
With a student-teacher ratio of 8.3:1, Maxwell Elementary offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.
Located in a rural area, Maxwell 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
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Maxwell Elementary — Students at Maxwell Elementary score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 22%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
100%
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
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 1.7/10.
How Maxwell Elementary Compares
See how Maxwell Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 30% (2021) to 54.5% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 90% (2021) to 54.5% (2022).
Location
PO BOX 275, Maxwell, NM 87728
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Maxwell Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. CIMARRON ELEMENTARY (rated 9.2/10, 20.9 miles away, in nearby Cimarron), which scores notably higher. Another option is RATON INTERMEDIATE (rated 8.4/10, 25.4 miles away, in nearby Raton), which scores notably higher. Additionally, LONGFELLOW ELEMENTARY (rated 7.3/10, 25.5 miles away, in nearby Raton), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Maxwell, see our Maxwell schools guide .
Nearby Schools
12 within 21.0 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| MAXWELL MIDDLE Maxwell | 0.1 mi | — |
| MAXWELL HIGH Maxwell | 0.1 mi | 9.0 |
| SPRINGER CORRECTIONAL FACILITY Springer | 11.4 mi | — |
| SPRINGER HIGH Springer | 12.1 mi | 8.1 |
| FORRESTER ELEMENTARY Springer | 12.5 mi | — |
| WILFERTH ELEMENTARY Springer | 12.5 mi | — |
| RATON HIGH Raton | 24.6 mi | 6.6 |
| RATON INTERMEDIATE Raton | 25.4 mi | 8.4 |
| LONGFELLOW ELEMENTARY Raton | 25.5 mi | 7.3 |
| CIMARRON ELEMENTARY Cimarron | 20.9 mi | 9.2 |
| CIMARRON MIDDLE Cimarron | 20.9 mi | 9.5 |
| CIMARRON HIGH Cimarron | 21.0 mi | 6.3 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 87728 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$37,125
Median Home Value
$85,000
Median Rent
$575/mo
Population
464
College Educated
11.1%
Homeownership
72%
Poverty Rate
8%
Median Age
37.9
Community Profile
The community surrounding Maxwell Elementary has a median household income of $37,125. It is a community where 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $85,000, with a median rent of $575/month. The local poverty rate of 8.0% is relatively low. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI SCHOOL Lumberton, NM | 5.8 |
| SAN DIEGO RIVERSIDE Jemez Pueblo, NM | 5.6 |
| EL RITO ELEMENTARY El Rito, NM | 5.5 |
| ST TERESA OF AVILA CATHOLIC SCHOOL Grants, NM | 5.5 |
| RESERVE ELEMENTARY Reserve, NM | 5.4 |
| CORONA ELEMENTARY Corona, NM | 6.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Maxwell Elementary
What grades does Maxwell Elementary serve?
Maxwell Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
How many students attend Maxwell Elementary?
Maxwell Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 50 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Maxwell Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Maxwell Elementary is 8.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Maxwell Elementary rank in NM?
Maxwell Elementary is ranked #562 out of 864 schools in NM.
What is Maxwell Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Maxwell Elementary has a composite rating of 5.7 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 Maxwell Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Maxwell Elementary has 42.3% math proficiency and 72.3% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Maxwell Elementary a charter school?
No, Maxwell Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Maxwell Elementary a Title I school?
No, Maxwell Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Maxwell Elementary?
100.0% of students at Maxwell 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
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 6th
- Enrollment
- 50
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 8.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 6
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 100.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Colfax County
- Phone
- (575) 375-2371
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
MAXWELL- District Enrollment
- 104
- Schools in District
- 3
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $29,038
- District Rank
- #2 of 2
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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