Placitas Elementary

Placitas Elementary is a public elementary school in Bernalillo, New Mexico, serving 119 students from kindergarten through sixth grade. A student-teacher ratio of 11.9:1 keeps classes small, giving teachers direct, sustained attention with each student. The school earns a 9.3/10 composite score and an Exceptional rating on MySchoolScout — driven by a 9.7 academic score and a 9.3 growth score.

Growth matters here: it measures whether students are advancing beyond baseline year over year, not just clearing minimums. Statewide, Placitas ranks #8 out of 864 public schools, outperforming 99% of all New Mexico schools. Filtered to elementary schools only, it ranks #7 out of 468 — a strong position in a competitive statewide peer group.

Within Bernalillo, Placitas holds the top spot among the area's 7 schools. At 119 students, it operates at a scale where individual progress doesn't disappear into aggregate numbers. For families searching for a high-performing public elementary in New Mexico, Placitas ranks among the strongest options in the state.

With an enrollment of 119 students, Placitas 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.

Located in a rural area, Placitas 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.