NMNew Mexico rankings

Towns with the best public schools in New Mexico

Ranked by how far each town's public schools score above or below the New Mexico average in math and reading proficiency, weighted by enrollment. 47 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-yearTest scores SY2020–21

New Mexico · Best schools

Las Cruces ranks #11 of 47

+8.3 pts vs. the NM average in math + reading · Visit Las Cruces →

1 University Park +44.4 pts Math 74.5% · Reading 95% 2 Eldorado at Santa Fe +34.6 pts Math 75% · Reading 75%

3 Los Alamos +29.1 pts Math 61% · Reading 78%

#Townvs. state averageMathReading

1 University ParkLAS CRUCES +44.4 pts 74.5% 95%

2 Eldorado at Santa FeSANTA FE +34.6 pts 75% 75%

Los AlamosLOS ALAMOS +29.1 pts 61% 78%

4 EdgewoodESTANCIA VALLEY CLASSICAL ACADEMY +20.1 pts 41% 80%

5 Rio RanchoRIO RANCHO +19.8 pts 48.7% 71.6%

6 Las VegasLAS VEGAS CITY +9.4 pts 30% 69.5%

7 DemingDEMING +9.1 pts 34.5% 64.5%

8 LovingtonLOVINGTON +9.1 pts 44.5% 54.5%

SocorroSOCORRO +9.1 pts 34.5% 64.5%

FarmingtonFARMINGTON +8.7 pts 35.8% 62.3%

Las CrucesLAS CRUCES +8.3 pts 34.8% 62.5%

RuidosoRUIDOSO +4.9 pts 26% 64.5%

AlamogordoALAMOGORDO +4.1 pts 32% 57%

14 AztecAZTEC +1.2 pts 21.4% 61.9%

ClovisCLOVIS −0.4 pts 31% 49%

BelenBELEN −0.7 pts 30% 49.5%

BloomfieldBLOOMFIELD −0.7 pts 30% 49.5%

18 HobbsHOBBS −3.4 pts 22% 52%

19 Los LunasLOS LUNAS −5.3 pts 24.7% 45.6%

PortalesPORTALES −5.5 pts 18.8% 51%

Santa FeSANTA FE −5.7 pts 24.3% 45.1%

RatonRATON −6.7 pts 27.8% 39.6%

23 RoswellROSWELL −8.9 pts 15.4% 47.7%

Sunland ParkGADSDEN −9.0 pts 26.2% 36.5%

AlbuquerqueALBUQUERQUE −10.2 pts 22.9% 37.5%

TucumcariTUCUMCARI −10.7 pts 15% 44.5%

27 TaosTAOS −13.8 pts 13.6% 39.5%

CrownpointGALLUP −14.2 pts 12.2% 40.2%

BernalilloBERNALILLO −15.2 pts 5.3% 45.1%

30 TularosaTULAROSA −15.3 pts 10.1% 40.2%

Santa TeresaGADSDEN −15.9 pts 24.5% 24.5%

32 Ranchos de TaosTAOS −15.9 pts 24.5% 24.5%

33 EuniceEUNICE −16.5 pts 6.2% 41.6%

34 ArtesiaARTESIA −18.0 pts 16.3% 28.4%

35 ChaparralGADSDEN −21.9 pts 15.2% 21.8%

36 ShiprockCENTRAL −22.6 pts 5.7% 29.9%

GallupGALLUP −23.5 pts 8.1% 25.7%

38 South ValleyALBUQUERQUE −23.6 pts 7.5% 26%

AnthonyGADSDEN −30.0 pts 10.4% 10.4%

GrantsGRANTS −31.7 pts 3.1% 14.2%

CarlsbadCARLSBAD −32.4 pts 6% 10.1%

42 Silver CitySILVER CITY −43.4 pts -3% -3%

43 CorralesALBUQUERQUE −43.4 pts -3% -3%

44 Truth or ConsequencesT OR C −43.4 pts -3% -3%

45 Los Ranchos de AlbuquerqueALBUQUERQUE −43.4 pts -3% -3%

46 Paradise HillsALBUQUERQUE −43.4 pts -3% -3%

47 DulceDULCE −43.4 pts -3% -3%

How this ranking works

For every public school in a town we take its latest math and reading proficiency and subtract the New Mexico average for the same test. The town’s score is the average of those gaps, weighted by each school’s enrollment, so a big high school counts more than a small annex. Private schools aren’t included.

Each state writes its own tests, so these scores compare towns within New Mexico only. We don’t rank a town unless at least 150 students in its schools were tested. Test data: EDFacts via Urban Institute Education Data Portal (SY2020-21).

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

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