Best Public Schools in Carrizozo, NM

The city of Carrizozo, New Mexico is home to three schools that serve students from elementary through high school: Carrizozo Elementary, Carrizozo High, and Carrizozo Middle. These schools, part of the Carrizozo Municipal Schools district, have demonstrated strong academic performance and a commitment to serving their diverse, high-need student population.

Carrizozo Elementary stands out as a top-performing school, ranked 76th out of 435 New Mexico elementary schools in 2022-2023 and earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school has shown consistent improvement, climbing from 267th place in 2017-2018 to its current high ranking. Despite having 100% of its students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, Carrizozo Elementary maintains a low student-teacher ratio of 12.2, suggesting a more personalized learning environment. Similarly, Carrizozo High has maintained a strong ranking, between 48th and 84th out of all New Mexico high schools over the past several years, with a 4-star rating and a low student-teacher ratio of 10.5.

Across all three Carrizozo schools, the student populations are small, ranging from 32 students at Carrizozo Middle to 72 students at Carrizozo Elementary. This tight-knit community setting likely fosters stronger relationships and more personalized attention for students. Additionally, the schools serve a diverse student body, with a majority of Hispanic students and smaller percentages of white and African American students. Despite the high-need population, with 100% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, the Carrizozo schools have demonstrated their ability to provide quality education and maintain strong academic performance.