Capitan Municipal Schools

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Capitan, New Mexico - 3 schools

An equity score of 53/100 ranks Capitan Municipal Schools #47 of 98 districts in New Mexico (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $15,375 per pupil, Capitan Municipal Schools ranks #67 of 141 New Mexico districts by per-pupil spending (New Mexico districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

471
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$15,375
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Capitan Municipal Schools operates 3 public schools serving 471 students, placing it among the smallest districts in New Mexico. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Lincoln County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $15,375 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 141 New Mexico districts by per-pupil spending. See how New Mexico compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 17.0% local, 73.5% state, and 9.6% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 53/100, ranked #47 of 98 in New Mexico against a state average of 50, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (2 AP courses district-wide), a 134:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 20.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 61.7% White, 31.9% Hispanic or Latino, 0.7% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Capitan Middle, with a diversity index of 53.4/100.

Its largest campus is Capitan Elementary, enrolling 207 students (47% of the district's total enrollment).

Capitan Elementary accounts for 43.9% of all Capitan Municipal Schools student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Capitan Municipal Schools-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Capitan Municipal Schools school enrollment varies 2.0× across entities

Capitan Municipal Schools school enrollment ranges from 102 students (lowest) to 207 students (highest), a spread of 105 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Capitan Municipal Schools student-counselor ratio is 134:1 — well below typical (typically associated with unusually small scale or exceptionally high per-unit investment)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Values this far below typical often correlate with unusually small scale or population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se — worth checking whether the underlying denominator is itself an outlier.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Capitan Municipal Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 20.3% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Capitan Municipal Schools is typically wider than the Capitan Municipal Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

9.6%
Federal
73.5%
State
17.0%
Local

Funding Equity

53
Equity Score
47 / 98
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Capitan Municipal Schools.

White 61.7%
Hispanic or Latino 31.9%
African American 0.7%
Multiracial 4.7%
Other 1.0%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 51.4/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Capitan Municipal Schools's schools, above the New Mexico average of 39.8.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Capitan Middle 53.4
  2. 2 Capitan Elementary 51.5
  3. 3 Capitan High 49.1

Programs & Resources

1 / 3
Schools with AP
2 AP courses total
134:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
20.3%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Capitan Municipal Schools

School Enrollment
Capitan Elementary
207
Capitan High
134
Capitan Middle
102

How Capitan Municipal Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The New Mexico districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Horizon Academy West Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Montessori Elementary School Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Mora Independent Schools Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Pecos Independent Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Lordsburg Municipal Schools Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Capitan Municipal Schools's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in New Mexico

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Albuquerque Public Schools
79,805 students · 176 schools · $12,964/pupil
Compare vs Capitan Municipal Schools →
Las Cruces Public Schools
23,631 students · 40 schools · $12,237/pupil
Compare vs Capitan Municipal Schools →
Rio Rancho Public Schools
17,272 students · 21 schools · $11,377/pupil
Compare vs Capitan Municipal Schools →
Gadsden Independent Schools
12,551 students · 28 schools · $14,189/pupil
Compare vs Capitan Municipal Schools →
Gallup-Mckinley Cty Schools
12,224 students · 33 schools · $16,054/pupil
Compare vs Capitan Municipal Schools →

Compare Capitan Municipal Schools

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Albuquerque Public Schools →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Capitan Municipal Schools?

Capitan Municipal Schools has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 471 students.

How much does Capitan Municipal Schools spend per student?

Capitan Municipal Schools spends $15,375 per student. The district has an equity score of 53/100, ranking #47 in New Mexico.

What is the demographic composition of Capitan Municipal Schools?

Capitan Municipal Schools students are 61.7% White, 31.9% Hispanic or Latino, 0.7% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Capitan Municipal Schools?

Capitan Municipal Schools has an equity score of 53/100, ranking #47 out of 98 districts in New Mexico.