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University Hills Elementary

Summary:

University Hills Elementary is a public elementary school in Las Cruces, New Mexico, serving 358 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Las Cruces school district, which is ranked 63 out of 119 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

University Hills Elementary has consistently ranked in the top half of New Mexico elementary schools, with a current ranking of 154 out of 433 schools (3 out of 5 stars). The school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts (40%), Mathematics (34%), and Science (26%) are higher than the district and state averages, with Mathematics being a particular strength. However, the school faces challenges in addressing the academic needs of its diverse student population, particularly in the areas of English Language Arts and Early Literacy. The school serves a high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with 100% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

In comparison to nearby schools, Booker T. Washington and Hermosa Heights Elementary perform worse than University Hills Elementary, while Desert Hills Elementary consistently ranks among the top 10% of New Mexico elementary schools. Mesilla Park Elementary performs similarly to University Hills Elementary in most academic areas. The school's performance for African American students is an area of concern, as it lags significantly behind the state and district averages, while its performance for Homeless students is a bright spot, indicating effective support for this vulnerable population.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 2005 South Locust St
       Las Cruces, NM  88001

(575) 527-9649

District: Las Cruces

SchoolDigger Rank:
154th of 433 New Mexico Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,880 Help


Students who attend University Hills Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Lynn Middle
High:    Arrowhead Park Early College High School

Student/teacher ratio:  12.1 Help
Number of students:  358

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
75.4%
White:
12.8%
Asian:
5.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details University Hills Elementary ranks better than 64.4% of elementary schools in New Mexico. It also ranks 8th among 24 ranked elementary schools in the Las Cruces School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 57.93. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (75.4%), White (12.8%), Asian (5%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Las Cruces School District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at University Hills Elementary is 12.1, which is the 3rd best among 24 elementary schools in the Las Cruces School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare University Hills Elementary employs 29.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at University Hills Elementary is $11,880, which is the 5th highest among 24 elementary schools in the Las Cruces School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

University Hills Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks University Hills Elementary 154th of 433 New Mexico public elementary schools. (See University Hills Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Las Cruces:

SchoolDigger ranks Las Cruces 63rd of 119 New Mexico school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for University Hills Elementary

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Rank History for all students at University Hills Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 66.29 108th 389 72.2%
2006 58.87 144th 390 63.1%
2007 52.84 179th 398 55.0%
2008 54.17 165th 405 59.3%
2009 41.45 249th 411 39.4%
2010 40.10 265th 419 36.8%
2011 40.16 247th 402 38.6%
2012 68.50 108th 398 72.9%
2013 63.25 125th 412 69.7%
2014 49.96 215th 442 51.4%
2015 58.53 138th 421 67.2%
2016 64.91 110th 410 73.2%
2017 57.62 124th 374 66.8%
2018 55.43 142nd 383 62.9%
2019 39.88 228th 396 42.4%
2022 55.13 141st 420 66.4%
2023 63.38 148th 435 66.0%
2024 57.93 154th 433 64.4%
See the entire list of New Mexico Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at University Hills Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 72.79 16th 98 83.7%
2022 54.39 73rd 203 64.0%
2023 71.43 53rd 191 72.3%
2024 55.15 74th 166 55.4%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at University Hills Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 36.75 88th 132 33.3%
2023 72.10 45th 165 72.7%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at University Hills Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 66.87 81st 356 77.2%
2019 48.98 171st 361 52.6%
2022 63.23 83rd 410 79.8%
2023 72.46 114th 426 73.2%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at University Hills Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 69.11 8th 36 77.8%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at University Hills Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 54.36 132nd 339 61.1%
2019 30.87 243rd 343 29.2%
2022 51.10 131st 395 66.8%
2023 58.40 147th 390 62.3%
2024 56.28 144th 393 63.4%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at University Hills Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 49.56 137th 333 58.9%
2019 39.84 191st 337 43.3%
2022 47.00 152nd 392 61.2%
2023 62.54 143rd 414 65.5%
2024 56.33 163rd 410 60.2%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at University Hills Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 21.86 49th 56 12.5%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at University Hills Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 56.55 124th 329 62.3%
2019 40.41 192nd 320 40.0%
2022 47.36 154th 389 60.4%
2023 67.60 114th 395 71.1%
2024 56.33 152nd 390 61.0%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at University Hills Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 43.44 108th 187 42.2%
2019 26.80 156th 199 21.6%
2022 47.12 170th 325 47.7%
2023 66.36 125th 413 69.7%
2024 62.84 103rd 293 64.8%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary 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.

University Hills 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 University Hills Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1990 355 17 36 212 16 n/a n/a 0 636
1991 208 17 11 168 8 n/a n/a 0 412
1992 218 18 12 179 13 n/a n/a 0 440
1993 202 22 17 171 14 n/a n/a 0 426
1994 217 19 13 180 13 n/a n/a 0 442
1995 179 22 8 175 3 n/a n/a 0 387
1996 179 22 8 175 3 n/a n/a 0 387
1997 163 22 13 183 4 n/a n/a 0 385
1998 155 18 11 182 13 n/a n/a 0 379
1999 162 15 11 198 8 n/a n/a 0 394
2000 152 14 20 189 10 n/a n/a 0 385
2001 158 17 20 201 9 n/a n/a 0 405
2002 158 16 28 226 7 n/a n/a 0 435
2003 158 16 28 226 7 n/a n/a 0 435
2004 142 20 23 254 9 n/a n/a 0 448
2005 112 19 20 250 16 n/a n/a 0 417
2006 110 14 10 279 15 n/a n/a 0 428
2007 110 12 8 271 19 n/a n/a 0 420
2008 108 12 13 252 18 n/a n/a 0 403
2009 100 19 15 278 14 n/a n/a 0 426
2010 94 22 17 271 7 0 0 0 411
2011 90 20 15 257 9 5 1 0 397
2012 77 10 10 245 8 3 1 0 354
2013 99 5 9 260 7 2 3 0 385
2014 84 13 10 260 11 4 5 0 387
2015 82 14 6 270 14 2 4 0 392
2016 79 8 11 275 19 3 2 0 397
2017 81 11 5 294 10 2 0 0 403
2018 67 17 10 309 14 2 2 0 421
2019 71 16 8 284 9 2 4 0 394
2020 52 19 15 280 11 2 4 0 383
2021 52 12 12 289 10 0 2 0 377
2022 50 14 14 268 11 0 3 0 360
2023 46 12 18 270 7 1 4 0 358

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 University Hills Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 636 29.0 21.9 n/a
1991 412 20.8 19.8 n/a
1992 440 23.9 18.4 n/a
1993 426 23.5 18.1 n/a
1994 442 24.6 18.0 n/a
1995 387 25.0 15.5 n/a
1996 387 25.0 15.5 n/a
1997 385 26.0 14.8 n/a
1998 379 25.1 15.1 n/a
1999 394 25.7 15.3 59.9
2000 385 24.3 15.8 60
2001 405 24.5 16.5 67.7
2002 435 29.2 14.9 68.5
2003 435 29.2 14.9 68.5
2004 448 30.3 14.8 56
2005 417 32.5 12.8 75.1
2006 428 36.5 11.7 72
2007 420 35.0 12.0 71.4
2008 403 30.0 13.4 76.4
2009 426 32.0 13.3 75.8
2010 411 32.0 12.8 76.9
2011 397 27.9 14.2 76.8
2012 354 27.4 12.9 99.2
2013 385 27.4 14.0 78.7
2014 387 26.4 14.6 76
2015 392 28.0 14.0 70.2
2016 397 27.0 14.7 100
2017 403 25.4 15.8 100
2018 421 26.3 15.9 100
2019 394 26.8 14.6 100
2020 383 30.2 12.6 100
2021 377 30.2 12.4 100
2022 360 31.0 11.6 100
2023 358 29.5 12.1 100

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 University Hills Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 636 29.0 21.9 n/a
1991 412 20.8 19.8 n/a
1992 440 23.9 18.4 n/a
1993 426 23.5 18.1 n/a
1994 442 24.6 18.0 n/a
1995 387 25.0 15.5 n/a
1996 387 25.0 15.5 n/a
1997 385 26.0 14.8 n/a
1998 379 25.1 15.1 n/a
1999 394 25.7 15.3 59.9
2000 385 24.3 15.8 60
2001 405 24.5 16.5 67.7
2002 435 29.2 14.9 68.5
2003 435 29.2 14.9 68.5
2004 448 30.3 14.8 56
2005 417 32.5 12.8 75.1
2006 428 36.5 11.7 72
2007 420 35.0 12.0 71.4
2008 403 30.0 13.4 76.4
2009 426 32.0 13.3 75.8
2010 411 32.0 12.8 76.9
2011 397 27.9 14.2 76.8
2012 354 27.4 12.9 99.2
2013 385 27.4 14.0 78.7
2014 387 26.4 14.6 76
2015 392 28.0 14.0 70.2
2016 397 27.0 14.7 100
2017 403 25.4 15.8 100
2018 421 26.3 15.9 100
2019 394 26.8 14.6 100
2020 383 30.2 12.6 100
2021 377 30.2 12.4 100
2022 360 31.0 11.6 100
2023 358 29.5 12.1 100

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 University Hills Elementary

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $11,880

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

Impact of COVID-19 on University Hills 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 228th of 396 Elementary schoolsRanks 148th of 435 Elementary schools
 23.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade Language Arts (University Hills Elementary)2950
 21%
   3rd Grade Language Arts (Las Cruces)2931.3
 2.3%
   3rd Grade Language Arts (New Mexico)3031.8
 1.8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (University Hills Elementary)4741.2
 5.8%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Las Cruces)2821.3
 6.7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (New Mexico)3222.5
 9.5%
4th Grade Language Arts (University Hills Elementary)1936
 17%
   4th Grade Language Arts (Las Cruces)2837
 9%
   4th Grade Language Arts (New Mexico)3035.2
 5.2%
4th Grade Mathematics (University Hills Elementary)1930.8
 11.8%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Las Cruces)2724.6
 2.4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (New Mexico)2724.5
 2.5%
5th Grade Language Arts (University Hills Elementary)2928.3
 0.7%
   5th Grade Language Arts (Las Cruces)3339.4
 6.4%
   5th Grade Language Arts (New Mexico)3335.7
 2.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (University Hills Elementary)1831.1
 13.1%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Las Cruces)2431.7
 7.7%
   5th Grade Mathematics (New Mexico)2430.7
 6.7%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students394358
 9.1%
African American1612
 25%
American Indian97
 22.2%
Asian818
 125%
Hispanic284270
 4.9%
Pacific Islander21
 50%
White7146
 35.2%
Two or More Races44
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients100%100%

Schools Near University Hills Elementary








Frequently Asked Questions about University Hills Elementary

Students at University Hills Elementary are 75% Hispanic, 13% White, 5% Asian, 3% African American, 2% American Indian, 1% Two or more races.

Students who attend University Hills Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Lynn Middle
High : Arrowhead Park Early College High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 358 students attended University Hills Elementary.

University Hills Elementary ranks 154th of 433 New Mexico elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.


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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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