LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico — 38 schools

23,631
Total Enrollment
38
Schools
$13,226
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS operates 38 public schools serving 23,631 students, placing it in the mid-size range in New Mexico. The school portfolio breaks down into 24 other, 8 middle, 5 high, 1 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 22,121 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Doña Ana County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,226 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 13.6% local, 69.4% state, and 17.0% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $69,388 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 37/100, ranked #70 of 98 in New Mexico against a state average of 51 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 4 of 38 schools offering Advanced Placement (117 AP courses district-wide), a 673.4:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 42.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 80.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% White, 1.8% African American across the district's schools.

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS school enrollment varies 46× across entities

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS school enrollment ranges from 46 students (lowest) to 2,128 students (highest), a spread of 2,082 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity — the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. 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

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 100.0% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility — including this one — receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS student-counselor ratio is 673:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS chronic absenteeism rate is 42.1% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

Where does the funding come from?

17.0%
Federal
69.4%
State
13.6%
Local

Funding Equity

37
Equity Score
70 / 98
State Rank
51
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Average Teacher Salary

$69,388
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 38 schools in LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

White 14.9%
Hispanic or Latino 80.4%
African American 1.8%
Asian 0.9%
Multiracial 1.5%
Other 0.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

4 / 38
Schools with AP
117 AP courses total
673.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
42.1%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS

School Enrollment
Organ Mountain High School
2,128
Centennial High School
1,713
Las Cruces High
1,703
Mayfield High
1,327
Camino Real Middle
933
Mesa Middle
728
Monte Vista Elementary
706
Highland Elementary
704
Sierra Middle
698
Picacho Middle
698
Sonoma Elementary
660
Zia Middle
616
Vista Middle
574
Tombaugh Elementary
565
Lynn Middle
507
Desert Hills Elementary
502
Cesar Chavez Elementary
492
East Picacho Elementary
460
Loma Heights Elementary
450
Jornada Elementary
429
Hillrise Elementary
421
Conlee Elementary
417
Hermosa Heights Elementary
408
Fairacres Elementary
405
Dona Ana Elementary
372
University Hills Elementary
363
Sunrise Elementary
363
Booker T. Washington
361
Valley View Elementary
343
Mac Arthur Elementary
335
Alameda Elementary
331
Mesilla Elementary
324
Mesilla Park Elementary
311
White Sands Elementary
270
Central Elementary
182
Columbia Elementary
182
Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy
94
Rio Grande Preparatory Institute
46

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 · $15,508/pupil
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RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
17,272 students · 21 schools · $13,705/pupil
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GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
12,551 students · 28 schools · $15,234/pupil
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GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS
12,224 students · 33 schools · $17,740/pupil
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SANTA FE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
11,769 students · 30 schools · $16,964/pupil
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Compare LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS has 38 schools, including 5 high, 8 middle, 24 other, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 23,631 students.

How much does LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS spend per student?

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS spends $13,226 per student. The district has an equity score of 37/100, ranking #70 in New Mexico.

What is the average teacher salary in LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

The average teacher salary in LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS is $69,388 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the demographic composition of LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS students are 80.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% White, 1.8% African American, 0.9% Asian, averaged across 38 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS has an equity score of 37/100, ranking #70 out of 98 districts in New Mexico. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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