Best Public Schools in Las Cruces, NM

The city of Las Cruces, New Mexico is home to 46 schools, including 27 elementary schools, 9 middle schools, 9 high schools, and 1 alternative school. The schools in this district serve a diverse student population and face challenges related to high rates of economic disadvantage, as indicated by the majority of schools having 100% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

Among the standout schools in the district are White Sands Elementary, which consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in the state with exceptional proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy, a middle school, also stands out with strong performance across multiple subjects and a ranking among the top 33 middle schools in New Mexico. At the high school level, Centennial High School is the highest-ranked in the district, earning a 4-star rating and ranking 39th out of 190 high schools in the state.

While some schools in the Las Cruces district are excelling, the data reveals significant disparities in performance, with other schools, such as Booker T. Washington and Picacho Middle, struggling with very low proficiency rates. This suggests an opportunity for the district to develop targeted interventions and support systems to help raise the achievement levels of the lower-performing schools, potentially by replicating the best practices of the top-performing schools.