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#678 of 864 schools in NM

Sunset Elementary

Elementary School · Carlsbad · Carlsbad, NM

A Carlsbad elementary school where students score 4 points below what's typical for similar communities.

923 N. WALTER ST., Carlsbad, NM 88220

  • Math 33% proficient (2022)
  • Reading 40% proficient (2022)
  • 16.8:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress3.6Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data9
Annual Change-2.85 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics7.4Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency33% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency40% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency37% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)41% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-4.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile61th
Resources & Environment4.8Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.8:1
District spending per student$13,304
Chronic Absenteeism31.7%

Students at Sunset Elementary score 36% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 41%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. NM average.

Math Proficiency33%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency40%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 14-year record (2009–2022), then recovered 15 points since 2014, reaching 37% in 2022.

Show all 9 years
2009
Math
61%
ELA
71%
2010
Math
55%
ELA
62%
2011
Math
49%
ELA
63%
2012
Math
46%
ELA
57%
2013
Math
51%
ELA
59%
2014
Math
17%
ELA
27%
2015
Math
18%
ELA
26%
2016
Math
17%
ELA
36%
2022
Math
33%
ELA
40%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 39% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 49% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

Based on 18 test records from NM state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

36.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Sunset Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 49Car-Dependent
  • Bike 62Bikeable
  • City Safety: High3,338/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Carlsbad), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$79,668

Median home value

$192,600

Median rent

$1,218/mo

College educated

20.4%

Homeownership

75.5%

Poverty rate

12%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 88220; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Jefferson MontessoriCharter · enrollment unverified5.9K–120.8 mi258Compare →
Carlsbad Enrichment CenterEnrollment path unverified2.41–120.9 mi234Compare →
Cottonwood ElementaryEnrollment path unverified3.8K–51.3 mi671Compare →
Early Childhood Education CenterEnrollment path unverified5.4PK–K1.3 mi212Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Carlsbad

Schools in district
14
Rank in district
#8 of 13
District spending per student
$13,304NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
16.1%Census SAIPE · 2024

Sunset Elementary is listed in CARLSBAD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Sunset Elementary

Sunset Elementary is a public elementary school in Carlsbad, NM, part of Carlsbad, serving approximately 419 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 16.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 out of 10 and ranks #678 of 864 schools in NM. State assessment records show 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 49% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Sunset Elementary

What grades does Sunset Elementary serve?

Sunset Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Sunset Elementary?

Sunset Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 419 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Sunset Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Sunset Elementary is 16.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Sunset Elementary rank in NM?

Sunset Elementary ranks #678 of 864 schools in NM.

What is Sunset Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Sunset Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 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 Sunset Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Sunset Elementary has 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 49% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Sunset Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Sunset Elementary a Title I school?

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

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

36.5% of students at Sunset 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.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
419
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
25
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Town
County
Eddy County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
31.7%
Area population (ZIP 88220)
40,151
Area average commute
21.5 min
Area median age
37.9
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 88220; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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