Mountain Elementary

Summary:

Mountain Elementary is a public elementary school serving grades PK-6 in Los Alamos, NM, with 421 students. It is part of the highly-ranked Los Alamos school district, which is ranked 4 out of 119 districts in the state and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. Mountain Elementary has consistently been one of the top-performing elementary schools in New Mexico, ranking within the top 5 schools in the state for the past several years.

Mountain Elementary significantly outperforms the state and local district averages across all subject areas and grade levels, with 81% proficiency in English Language Arts, 72% in Mathematics, and 78% in Science, compared to 39%, 25%, and 36% respectively for the state. The school ranks exceptionally well for all student subgroups, including female, male, Hispanic, white, English Language Learners, and special education students. With only 9.03% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, Mountain Elementary has a significantly lower rate than the state average, indicating a relatively affluent student population. The school also maintains a low student-teacher ratio of 12.9 students per teacher, which is lower than the nearby schools and likely contributes to the school's ability to provide personalized attention and support to its students.

In contrast to the high-performing schools in Los Alamos, the nearby schools in the Pojoaque and Espanola districts have significantly lower academic achievement, with proficiency rates well below the state averages. This highlights the disparities in educational opportunities and resources within the region. The success of Mountain Elementary and the Los Alamos district as a whole presents an opportunity for other schools and districts in New Mexico to learn from their practices and strategies to improve educational outcomes for their own students.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

 2280 North Rd
       Los Alamos, NM  87544


(505) 663-2325

District: Los Alamos

SchoolDigger Rank:
4th of 433 New Mexico Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,220 Help


Students who attend Mountain Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Los Alamos Middle
High:    Los Alamos High

Student/teacher ratio:  13.1 Help
Number of students:  443

Racial breakdown:

White:
54.9%
Hispanic:
29.1%
Asian:
9.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  7.7% Help


 See top rated New Mexico elementary schools

 Compare Mountain Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
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Compare Details Mountain Elementary ranks better than 99.1% of elementary schools in New Mexico. It also ranks first among 5 ranked elementary schools in the Los Alamos School District! (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 99.73. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (54.9%), Hispanic (29.1%), Asian (9.5%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 7.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Mountain Elementary is 13.1. 3 elementary schools in the Los Alamos School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Mountain Elementary employs 33.8 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Mountain Elementary is $11,220. 2 elementary schools in the Los Alamos School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Mountain Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Mountain Elementary 4th of 433 New Mexico public elementary schools. (See Mountain Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


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


Los Alamos:

SchoolDigger ranks Los Alamos 4th of 119 New Mexico school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Mountain Elementary.

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Rank History for Mountain Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Mountain Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 97.37 4th 389 99.0%
2006 96.04 7th 390 98.2%
2007 95.15 7th 398 98.2%
2008 93.42 15th 405 96.3%
2009 91.31 19th 411 95.4%
2010 91.21 17th 419 95.9%
2011 98.28 2nd 402 99.5%
2012 97.66 5th 398 98.7%
2013 95.50 13th 412 96.8%
2014 96.08 9th 442 98.0%
2015 97.18 12th 421 97.1%
2016 97.39 8th 410 98.0%
2017 97.59 6th 374 98.4%
2018 97.47 5th 383 98.7%
2019 99.07 1st 396 99.7%
2022 99.48 3rd 420 99.3%
2023 99.85 2nd 435 99.5%
2024 99.73 4th 433 99.1%
See the entire list of New Mexico Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Mountain Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 99.97 2nd 191 99.0%
2024 100.00 1st 166 99.4%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Mountain Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 95.18 2nd 47 95.7%
2022 82.84 9th 132 93.2%
2023 99.88 2nd 165 98.8%
2024 97.18 7th 99 92.9%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Mountain Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 100.00 1st 410 99.8%
2023 99.84 2nd 426 99.5%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Mountain Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 96.24 6th 339 98.2%
2019 98.72 1st 343 99.7%
2022 99.63 4th 395 99.0%
2023 99.76 2nd 390 99.5%
2024 99.60 4th 393 99.0%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Mountain Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 95.27 7th 333 97.9%
2019 98.79 1st 337 99.7%
2022 98.67 4th 392 99.0%
2023 99.87 1st 414 99.8%
2024 99.74 4th 410 99.0%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Mountain Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 95.25 4th 329 98.8%
2019 94.04 5th 320 98.4%
2022 97.19 8th 389 97.9%
2023 99.56 4th 395 99.0%
2024 98.67 12th 390 96.9%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Mountain Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 87.29 8th 187 95.7%
2019 95.88 2nd 199 99.0%
2022 96.22 1st 325 99.7%
2023 99.67 3rd 413 99.3%
2024 98.48 4th 293 98.6%
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.

Mountain Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: New Mexico Public Education Department

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

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Reviews:
by a parent
Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Open Quote Excellent learning environment that spills out into the hallways, with robotic cars, and into grounds, with flowerbeds designed by each grade level. We do not have a cafeteria to serve food, but we are the first school in Los Alamos to make getting a hot lunch program set up to feed our qualifying students a hot meal every school day. The students are the focus at Mountain. Happy students, make well adjusted learners. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Mountain Elementary

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1990 328 0 4 49 0 n/a n/a 0 381
1991 284 4 4 66 2 n/a n/a 0 360
1992 285 3 5 63 2 n/a n/a 0 358
1993 284 5 7 60 0 n/a n/a 0 356
1994 271 4 4 63 0 n/a n/a 0 342
1995 299 1 14 51 0 n/a n/a 0 365
1996 299 1 14 51 0 n/a n/a 0 365
1997 323 0 12 47 0 n/a n/a 0 382
1998 303 2 12 42 1 n/a n/a 0 360
1999 296 1 15 51 3 n/a n/a 0 366
2000 316 3 8 63 1 n/a n/a 0 391
2001 300 2 7 60 2 n/a n/a 0 371
2002 271 4 14 71 1 n/a n/a 0 361
2003 271 4 14 71 1 n/a n/a 0 361
2004 283 3 14 72 1 n/a n/a 0 373
2005 314 3 20 66 1 n/a n/a 0 404
2006 346 5 24 63 1 n/a n/a 0 439
2007 342 7 29 71 2 n/a n/a 0 451
2008 268 9 21 57 4 n/a n/a 0 359
2009 274 3 22 67 5 n/a n/a 0 371
2010 281 3 26 72 6 0 0 0 388
2011 305 1 26 96 7 0 0 0 435
2012 294 7 34 94 3 0 9 0 441
2013 277 7 35 100 5 0 8 0 432
2014 289 8 34 100 12 0 8 0 451
2015 294 10 24 96 12 0 7 0 443
2016 273 6 22 113 11 0 18 0 443
2017 258 3 25 109 11 0 25 0 431
2018 260 3 30 101 7 0 23 0 424
2019 255 5 25 109 7 0 26 0 427
2020 267 3 29 114 5 0 32 0 450
2021 265 2 33 101 2 0 31 0 434
2022 247 4 36 126 1 0 24 0 438
2023 241 6 34 114 5 0 21 0 421
2024 243 3 42 129 8 0 18 0 443

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 Mountain Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 381 24.1 15.8 n/a
1991 360 24.0 15.0 n/a
1992 358 23.9 14.9 n/a
1993 356 23.4 15.2 n/a
1994 342 23.4 14.6 n/a
1995 365 25.8 14.1 n/a
1996 365 25.8 14.1 n/a
1997 382 24.2 15.8 n/a
1998 360 24.3 14.8 n/a
1999 366 21.9 16.7 0
2000 391 26.7 14.6 0
2001 371 24.6 15.1 0
2002 361 24.6 14.7 0
2003 361 24.6 14.7 0
2004 373 22.6 16.5 0
2005 404 26.2 15.4 0
2006 439 31.4 14.0 0
2007 451 33.1 13.6 0
2008 359 29.7 12.1 n/a
2009 371 28.8 12.9 n/a
2010 388 31.4 12.3 n/a
2011 435 30.8 14.0 0
2012 441 31.3 14.0 0
2013 432 31.8 13.5 0.7
2014 451 31.9 14.1 1.3
2015 443 31.0 14.2 10.6
2016 443 32.0 13.8 13.8
2017 431 32.6 13.2 14.6
2018 424 30.0 14.1 14.4
2019 427 30.9 13.7 7.7
2020 450 30.7 14.6 8.2
2021 434 30.9 14.0 6.9
2022 438 33.8 12.9 8.2
2023 421 32.5 12.9 9
2024 443 33.8 13.1 7.7

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 Mountain Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 381 24.1 15.8 n/a
1991 360 24.0 15.0 n/a
1992 358 23.9 14.9 n/a
1993 356 23.4 15.2 n/a
1994 342 23.4 14.6 n/a
1995 365 25.8 14.1 n/a
1996 365 25.8 14.1 n/a
1997 382 24.2 15.8 n/a
1998 360 24.3 14.8 n/a
1999 366 21.9 16.7 0
2000 391 26.7 14.6 0
2001 371 24.6 15.1 0
2002 361 24.6 14.7 0
2003 361 24.6 14.7 0
2004 373 22.6 16.5 0
2005 404 26.2 15.4 0
2006 439 31.4 14.0 0
2007 451 33.1 13.6 0
2008 359 29.7 12.1 n/a
2009 371 28.8 12.9 n/a
2010 388 31.4 12.3 n/a
2011 435 30.8 14.0 0
2012 441 31.3 14.0 0
2013 432 31.8 13.5 0.7
2014 451 31.9 14.1 1.3
2015 443 31.0 14.2 10.6
2016 443 32.0 13.8 13.8
2017 431 32.6 13.2 14.6
2018 424 30.0 14.1 14.4
2019 427 30.9 13.7 7.7
2020 450 30.7 14.6 8.2
2021 434 30.9 14.0 6.9
2022 438 33.8 12.9 8.2
2023 421 32.5 12.9 9
2024 443 33.8 13.1 7.7

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 Mountain Elementary

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $11,220

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Mountain 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 1st of 396 Elementary schoolsRanks 2nd of 435 Elementary schools
 0.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Language Arts (Mountain Elementary)6581.8
 16.8%
   3rd Grade Language Arts (Los Alamos)5069.6
 19.6%
   3rd Grade Language Arts (New Mexico)3031.8
 1.8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Mountain Elementary)8076.4
 3.6%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Los Alamos)5565.8
 10.8%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (New Mexico)3222.5
 9.5%
4th Grade Language Arts (Mountain Elementary)7375
 2%
   4th Grade Language Arts (Los Alamos)5866
 8%
   4th Grade Language Arts (New Mexico)3035.2
 5.2%
4th Grade Mathematics (Mountain Elementary)7676.9
 0.9%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Los Alamos)6059.1
 0.9%
   4th Grade Mathematics (New Mexico)2724.5
 2.5%
5th Grade Language Arts (Mountain Elementary)8282
   5th Grade Language Arts (Los Alamos)5466.5
 12.5%
   5th Grade Language Arts (New Mexico)3335.7
 2.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Mountain Elementary)6186.9
 25.9%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Los Alamos)4463.9
 19.9%
   5th Grade Mathematics (New Mexico)2430.7
 6.7%
6th Grade Language Arts (Mountain Elementary)6572.1
 7.1%
   6th Grade Language Arts (Los Alamos)6070.2
 10.2%
   6th Grade Language Arts (New Mexico)3132.9
 1.9%
6th Grade Mathematics (Mountain Elementary)5278.7
 26.7%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Los Alamos)5370.1
 17.1%
   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 Students427421
 1.4%
African American56
 20%
American Indian75
 28.6%
Asian2534
 36%
Hispanic109114
 4.6%
Pacific Islander00
White255241
 5.5%
Two or More Races2621
 19.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients7.7%9%
 1.3%


Schools Near Mountain Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Mountain Elementary

Yes! Mountain Elementary is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 4th of 433 New Mexico elementary schools.

In the 2023-24 school year, 443 students attended Mountain Elementary.

Students at Mountain Elementary are 55% White, 29% Hispanic, 9% Asian, 4% Two or more races, 2% American Indian.

Students who attend Mountain Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Los Alamos Middle
High : Los Alamos High


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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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