Excellent
#13 of 864 schools in NM
Top 1% in state
White Sands Elementary
Elementary School · Las Cruces · Las Cruces, NM
A Las Cruces elementary school where students score 37 points above what's typical for similar communities.
505 SOUTH MAIN SUITE 249, Las Cruces, NM 88001
- Math 57% proficient (2022)
- Reading 62% proficient (2022)
- 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at White Sands Elementary score 60% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 23%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NM average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is up 8 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 60% recently.
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 53% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 56% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
Based on 23 test records from NM state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
97.9%
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where White Sands 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 11Car-Dependent
- Bike 32Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High5,602/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Las Cruces), 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
$32,978
Median home value
$158,300
Median rent
$797/mo
College educated
28.6%
Homeownership
40.9%
Poverty rate
38%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 88001; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 in LAS CRUCES
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.0 | PK–5 | Not available | 186 | Compare → |
| Conlee ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.0 | PK–5 | Not available | 411 | Compare → |
| Jornada ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.8 | PK–5 | Not available | 453 | Compare → |
| Sonoma ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.3 | PK–5 | Not available | 735 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Las Cruces
- Schools in district
- 39
- Rank in district
- #1 of 39
- District spending per student
- $14,965NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 24.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
White Sands Elementary is listed in LAS CRUCES; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About White Sands Elementary
White Sands Elementary is a public elementary school in Las Cruces, NM, part of Las Cruces, serving approximately 283 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.3 out of 10 and ranks #13 of 864 schools in NM. State assessment records show 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 56% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about White Sands Elementary
What grades does White Sands Elementary serve?
White Sands Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend White Sands Elementary?
White Sands Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 283 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at White Sands Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at White Sands Elementary is 11.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does White Sands Elementary rank in NM?
White Sands Elementary ranks #13 of 864 schools in NM.
What is White Sands Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
White Sands Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.3 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 White Sands Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, White Sands Elementary has 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 56% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is White Sands Elementary a charter school?
No, White Sands Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is White Sands Elementary a Title I school?
No, White Sands Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for White Sands Elementary?
97.9% of students at White Sands 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
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 283
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 24
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Doña Ana County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 30.0%
- Phone
- (575) 674-1241
- Area population (ZIP 88001)
- 38,972
- Area average commute
- 16.5 min
- Area median age
- 27.4
Official sources & links
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 88001; 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
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