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Central Elementary

Summary:

Central Elementary is a public middle school located in Belen, New Mexico, serving grades 4-6 with a total enrollment of 223 students. The school is part of the Belen school district, which is ranked 61 out of 119 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Central Elementary's academic performance is significantly lower than the district and state averages across all subject areas. In the 2023-2024 school year, only 21% of Central Elementary students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 38% in the Belen district and 39% statewide. In Mathematics, only 13% of Central Elementary students were proficient or better, compared to 25% in the Belen district and statewide. The school's high poverty concentration, with a 100% free and reduced lunch rate, may be a contributing factor to these academic challenges.

While Central Elementary has a relatively low student-teacher ratio compared to nearby schools like Los Lunas Middle, Valencia Middle School, and Belen Middle, this advantage does not seem to be translating into better academic outcomes. The school's persistent underperformance suggests a need to re-evaluate its resource allocation and instructional approaches to better support student learning and achievement.


Detail:

Public 4-6

 600 W. Picard Ave
       Belen, NM  87002

(505) 966-1200

District: Belen

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,859 Help


Students who attend Central Elementary usually attend:

High:    Belen High

Student/teacher ratio:  14.8 Help
Number of students:  223

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
80.3%
White:
15.7%
American Indian:
2.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Central Elementary ranks worse than 86.8% of elementary schools in New Mexico. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 17.68. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (80.3%), White (15.7%), American Indian (2.7%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Central Elementary is 14.8. (See more...)
Help
Compare Central Elementary employs 15 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Central Elementary is $9,859.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Central Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Central Elementary 376th of 433 New Mexico public elementary schools. (See Central Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Belen:

SchoolDigger ranks Belen 61st of 119 New Mexico school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Central Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 29.77 297th 389 23.7%
2006 32.53 280th 390 28.2%
2007 35.65 260th 398 34.7%
2008 41.43 241st 405 40.5%
2009 37.45 272nd 411 33.8%
2010 35.17 293rd 419 30.1%
2011 36.39 267th 402 33.6%
2012 26.64 314th 398 21.1%
2013 33.97 289th 412 29.9%
2014 33.81 308th 442 30.3%
2015 34.70 268th 421 36.3%
2016 41.24 222nd 410 45.9%
2017 38.92 216th 374 42.2%
2018 37.03 231st 383 39.7%
2019 33.11 259th 396 34.6%
2022 33.25 258th 420 38.6%
2023 25.80 332nd 435 23.7%
2024 17.68 376th 433 13.2%
See the entire list of New Mexico Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 38.68 63rd 98 35.7%
2022 46.46 110th 203 45.8%
2023 30.52 158th 191 17.3%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 30.15 138th 165 16.4%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 47.88 173rd 356 51.4%
2019 42.14 205th 361 43.2%
2022 39.15 208th 410 49.3%
2023 28.83 316th 426 25.8%
2024 12.89 217th 237 8.4%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 43.39 180th 339 46.9%
2019 49.19 151st 343 56.0%
2022 41.86 190th 395 51.9%
2023 24.85 312th 390 20.0%
2024 12.58 369th 393 6.1%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.34 268th 333 19.5%
2019 17.06 305th 337 9.5%
2022 25.96 263rd 392 32.9%
2023 24.08 322nd 414 22.2%
2024 24.57 316th 410 22.9%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.03 216th 329 34.3%
2019 36.23 204th 320 36.3%
2022 35.44 215th 389 44.7%
2023 20.44 337th 395 14.7%
2024 15.97 355th 390 9.0%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 43.80 104th 187 44.4%
2019 14.35 190th 199 4.5%
2022 41.12 200th 325 38.5%
2023 18.73 355th 413 14.0%
2024 11.43 277th 293 5.5%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: New Mexico Public Education Department, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Central Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 
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Data source: New Mexico Public Education Department

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Enrollment information for Central Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1990 87 7 0 250 0 n/a n/a 0 344
1991 97 3 0 203 0 n/a n/a 0 303
1992 68 2 0 193 0 n/a n/a 0 263
1993 64 4 0 203 1 n/a n/a 0 272
1994 74 7 0 206 0 n/a n/a 0 287
1995 95 8 0 214 0 n/a n/a 0 317
1996 95 8 0 214 0 n/a n/a 0 317
1997 109 8 0 197 0 n/a n/a 0 314
1998 88 4 1 202 4 n/a n/a 0 299
1999 53 6 2 237 14 n/a n/a 0 312
2000 76 6 2 247 14 n/a n/a 0 345
2001 68 4 2 273 12 n/a n/a 0 359
2002 70 3 2 229 6 n/a n/a 0 310
2003 70 3 2 229 6 n/a n/a 0 310
2004 60 7 4 191 4 n/a n/a 0 266
2005 56 8 4 187 6 n/a n/a 0 261
2006 62 9 2 197 7 n/a n/a 0 277
2007 59 10 3 194 11 n/a n/a 0 277
2008 62 8 2 201 5 n/a n/a 0 278
2009 64 5 2 188 5 n/a n/a 0 264
2010 61 6 2 195 7 0 0 0 271
2011 55 5 0 210 8 0 0 0 278
2012 58 4 0 209 11 0 0 0 282
2013 47 3 0 194 8 0 0 0 252
2014 53 4 0 177 3 0 0 0 237
2015 51 5 0 151 2 0 0 0 209
2016 44 5 0 150 6 1 0 0 206
2017 42 4 0 140 8 0 3 0 197
2018 42 3 0 181 7 0 0 0 233
2019 43 4 0 191 4 1 1 0 244
2020 36 5 0 177 4 0 0 0 222
2021 33 9 0 171 2 0 0 0 215
2022 23 7 0 157 7 0 0 0 194
2023 35 3 0 179 6 0 0 0 223

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Central Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 344 17.7 19.4 n/a
1991 303 15.2 19.9 n/a
1992 263 14.8 17.7 n/a
1993 272 14.8 18.4 n/a
1994 287 16.6 17.3 n/a
1995 317 17.9 17.7 n/a
1996 317 17.9 17.7 n/a
1997 314 12.8 24.5 n/a
1998 299 17.8 16.8 n/a
1999 312 20.7 15.1 76
2000 345 24.4 14.1 78
2001 359 23.6 15.2 91.1
2002 310 20.5 15.1 94.5
2003 310 20.5 15.1 94.5
2004 266 21.7 12.3 91.7
2005 261 22.0 11.9 92.7
2006 277 21.1 13.1 98.9
2007 277 22.0 12.6 98.9
2008 278 18.0 15.4 98.9
2009 264 18.0 14.7 98.9
2010 271 18.0 15.0 98.9
2011 278 18.5 15.0 98.9
2012 282 18.5 15.2 98.9
2013 252 17.5 14.4 98.8
2014 237 17.5 13.5 98.7
2015 209 14.0 14.9 83.3
2016 206 15.0 13.7 100
2017 197 14.5 13.5 100
2018 233 13.6 17.1 100
2019 244 15.6 15.6 100
2020 222 14.6 15.2 100
2021 215 15.1 14.2 100
2022 194 13.1 14.8 100
2023 223 15.0 14.8 100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Central Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 344 17.7 19.4 n/a
1991 303 15.2 19.9 n/a
1992 263 14.8 17.7 n/a
1993 272 14.8 18.4 n/a
1994 287 16.6 17.3 n/a
1995 317 17.9 17.7 n/a
1996 317 17.9 17.7 n/a
1997 314 12.8 24.5 n/a
1998 299 17.8 16.8 n/a
1999 312 20.7 15.1 76
2000 345 24.4 14.1 78
2001 359 23.6 15.2 91.1
2002 310 20.5 15.1 94.5
2003 310 20.5 15.1 94.5
2004 266 21.7 12.3 91.7
2005 261 22.0 11.9 92.7
2006 277 21.1 13.1 98.9
2007 277 22.0 12.6 98.9
2008 278 18.0 15.4 98.9
2009 264 18.0 14.7 98.9
2010 271 18.0 15.0 98.9
2011 278 18.5 15.0 98.9
2012 282 18.5 15.2 98.9
2013 252 17.5 14.4 98.8
2014 237 17.5 13.5 98.7
2015 209 14.0 14.9 83.3
2016 206 15.0 13.7 100
2017 197 14.5 13.5 100
2018 233 13.6 17.1 100
2019 244 15.6 15.6 100
2020 222 14.6 15.2 100
2021 215 15.1 14.2 100
2022 194 13.1 14.8 100
2023 223 15.0 14.8 100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Central Elementary

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $9,859

Data source: New Mexico Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Central Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Ranks 259th of 396 Elementary schoolsRanks 332nd of 435 Elementary schools
 10.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
4th Grade Language Arts (Central Elementary)2114.8
 6.2%
   4th Grade Language Arts (Belen)2835.2
 7.2%
   4th Grade Language Arts (New Mexico)3035.2
 5.2%
4th Grade Mathematics (Central Elementary)2014.8
 5.2%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Belen)3230
 2%
   4th Grade Mathematics (New Mexico)2724.5
 2.5%
5th Grade Language Arts (Central Elementary)2627
 1%
   5th Grade Language Arts (Belen)3233.2
 1.2%
   5th Grade Language Arts (New Mexico)3335.7
 2.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Central Elementary)1828.6
 10.6%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Belen)2633.9
 7.9%
   5th Grade Mathematics (New Mexico)2430.7
 6.7%
6th Grade Language Arts (Central Elementary)3122.8
 8.2%
   6th Grade Language Arts (Belen)3537.7
 2.7%
   6th Grade Language Arts (New Mexico)3132.9
 1.9%
6th Grade Mathematics (Central Elementary)1840.4
 22.4%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Belen)1948.8
 29.8%
   6th Grade Mathematics (New Mexico)1932.5
 13.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students244223
 8.6%
African American43
 25%
American Indian46
 50%
Asian00
Hispanic191179
 6.3%
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White4335
 18.6%
Two or More Races10
 100%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients100%100%

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Frequently Asked Questions about Central Elementary

Students who attend Central Elementary usually go on to attend Belen High

Students at Central Elementary are 80% Hispanic, 16% White, 3% American Indian, 1% African American.

In the 2022-23 school year, 223 students attended Central Elementary.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the New Mexico Public Education Department.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.




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