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#491 of 864 schools in NM

Mesa Elementary

Elementary School · CENTRAL

PO BOX 1803, Shiprock, NM 87420

Enrollment

260

Student-Teacher

15.3:1

Score

5.9

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

New Mexico schools

#491 of 864

In Shiprock

#4 of 8

public schools

In district

#5 of 15

CENTRAL

Academic growth

8.1 / 10

Excellent

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Mesa Elementary

5.9/10

Elementary School in Shiprock · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Shiprock Northwest High School

Nearby

0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Atsa' Biya' A'zh Community School

7.7/10

0.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Mesa Elementary

Mesa Elementary is a public elementary school in Shiprock, NM, part of CENTRAL. Mesa Elementary serves approximately 260 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Mesa Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.9 out of 10 and ranks #491 of 864 schools in NM.

Structured state assessment records for Mesa Elementary show 14% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 27% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 5.9 · Average
  • District avg 6.0
  • NM avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

Test scores at Mesa Elementary sit below average, but its growth scores are strong: students here make above-average progress year over year. The raw numbers haven't caught up, but a school that keeps moving kids forward is doing the harder, more important work.

Mesa Elementary sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

69% of students at Mesa 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 metrics
Student Progress8.1Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.15 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics2.7Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency7.5% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency17% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency12% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)32% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-19.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile9th
Resources & Environment5.2Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$23,470
Chronic Absenteeism68.8%

Mesa Elementary — Students at Mesa Elementary score 12% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 32%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

67.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NM EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 14.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 26.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 27 test records from NM state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
34%
ELA
42%
2010
Math
22%
ELA
22%
2011
Math
24%
ELA
30%
2012
Math
17%
ELA
28%
2013
Math
27%
ELA
22%
2014
Math
12%
ELA
12%
2015
Math
12%
ELA
17%
2016
Math
12%
ELA
17%
2017
Math
17%
2018
Math
2.5%
ELA
17%
2019
Math
2.5%
ELA
17%
2020*
Math
5%
ELA
54.5%
2021*
Math
5%
ELA
54.5%
2022
Math
7.5%
ELA
17%

* 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: 8.1/10.

How Mesa Elementary Compares

See how Mesa Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.9/10
43th percentile in NM
Academic
2.7/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
8.1/10
Excellent
Environment
5.2/10
Average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
68%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
17 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
68.8%

Location

PO BOX 1803, Shiprock, NM 87420

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Mesa Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. JUDY NELSON ELEMENTARY (rated 8.8/10, 17.3 miles away, in nearby Kirtland), which scores notably higher. Another option is Beclabito Day School (rated 8.2/10, 18.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, EVA B STOKELY ELEMENTARY (rated 8.0/10, 2.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Shiprock, see our Shiprock schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 24.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Shiprock Northwest High School Shiprock 0.7 mi
Atsa' Biya' a'zh Community School Shiprock 0.8 mi 7.7
DREAM DINE CHARTER SCHOOL Shiprock 1.0 mi
SHIPROCK HIGH Shiprock 2.1 mi 5.9
EVA B STOKELY ELEMENTARY Shiprock 2.3 mi 8.0
CAREER PREP ALTERNATIVE Shiprock 2.4 mi 5.7
TSE BIT AI MIDDLE Shiprock 2.7 mi 5.1
NIZHONI ELEMENTARY Shiprock 3.0 mi 4.5
OPEN BIBLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Waterflow 13.1 mi
OPEN BIBLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Waterflow 13.1 mi
Nenahnezad Community School Fruitland 16.1 mi 3.8
JUDY NELSON ELEMENTARY Kirtland 17.3 mi 8.8
KIRTLAND CENTRAL HIGH Kirtland 17.9 mi 6.5
KIRTLAND MIDDLE Kirtland 18.1 mi 5.3
KIRTLAND ELEMENTARY Kirtland 18.7 mi 4.9
OJO AMARILLO ELEMENTARY Fruitland 19.1 mi 6.7
Beclabito Day School Shiprock 18.8 mi 8.2
Sanostee Day School Sanostee 26.5 mi
Kwiyagat Community Academy Tawoac 27.8 mi 4.0
Red Rock Day School Red Valley 24.9 mi 8.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 87420 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$38,079

Median Home Value

$101,600

Median Rent

$693/mo

Population

11,048

College Educated

10.9%

Homeownership

54.9%

Avg Commute

31.9 min

Poverty Rate

27.9%

Median Age

35.4

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
INEZ ELEMENTARY Albuquerque, NM 5.9
KEARNY ELEMENTARY Santa Fe, NM 5.9
SOMBRA DEL MONTE ELEMENTARY Albuquerque, NM 5.9
TAOS MUNICIPAL CHARTER Taos, NM 5.9
CHEE DODGE ELEMENTARY Yah Ta Hey, NM 6.0
JAL ELEMENTARY Jal, NM 6.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Mesa Elementary

What grades does Mesa Elementary serve?

Mesa Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Mesa Elementary?

Mesa Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 260 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Mesa Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Mesa Elementary is 15.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Mesa Elementary rank in NM?

Mesa Elementary ranks #491 of 864 schools in NM.

What is Mesa Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Mesa Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.9 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 Mesa Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Mesa Elementary has 14% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 27% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Mesa Elementary a charter school?

No, Mesa Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Mesa Elementary a Title I school?

No, Mesa Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Mesa Elementary?

67.7% of students at Mesa 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
7 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
24 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
260
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
17
Free/Reduced Lunch
67.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
San Juan County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
68.8%

District

CENTRAL
District Enrollment
4,702
Schools in District
17
Per-Pupil Spending
$23,470
District Rank
#5 of 15

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