Elementary Schools in Gadsden

The Gadsden school district in New Mexico is home to 16 public elementary schools serving grades PK-6, with student populations ranging from 225 to 501. While the district as a whole lags behind the state averages in academic proficiency, a few standout schools like La Union Elementary and Anthony Elementary are performing exceptionally well, ranking in the top 100 elementary schools in the state.

The data reveals a stark contrast in performance among the Gadsden schools. While La Union and Anthony boast proficiency rates as high as 54% in English Language Arts and 48% in Mathematics, other schools like Berino Elementary and Vado Elementary struggle, ranking in the bottom 25% of New Mexico elementary schools. This wide range in academic achievement suggests the critical role of school leadership, teacher quality, and available resources in driving student outcomes, even within a high-poverty district like Gadsden.

Across the district, all 16 schools have 100% of their students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high-poverty student population. This correlation between poverty and academic performance points to the need for targeted interventions and resource allocation to improve learning outcomes, especially in the areas of math and science. The standout schools could serve as models for collaboration and the sharing of best practices to help raise the performance of the lower-achieving Gadsden elementary schools.