- Enrollment
- 2,128
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Las Cruces, NM
Columbia Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Columbia Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 350150000884
👥 S:T ratio 65
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 64
📋 Attendance 31
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Columbia Elementary earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 90% of New Mexico schools.
- #4 of 25
- schools in Las Cruces · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 8.7:1
- small classes for New Mexico
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Columbia Elementary has class sizes smaller than 90% of New Mexico schools. Computed live against every New Mexico school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Columbia Elementary ranks #4 of 25 schools in Las Cruces, NM.
School address
District: Las Cruces Public Schools · New Mexico
NCES ID 350150000884 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-27 students YoY
Columbia Elementary shrank from 225 students in 2022-23 to 198 in 2023-24 (-12.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 21.5 → 21.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-27 students YoY 350150000884 · Las Cruces, NM Other · SMALL · TRAD
182 enr · 8.7:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Organ Mountain High School (2,128 students)
Columbia Elementary shrank from 225 students in 2022-23 to 198 in 2023-24 (-12.0%). Teacher FTE lost 21.5 → 21.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Mexico schools → · Find another →
Columbia Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Organ Mountain
Organ Mountain High School
2,128 students
- Centennial Hig
Centennial High School
1,713 students
- Las Cruces Hig
Las Cruces High
1,703 students
- Mayfield High
Mayfield High
1,327 students
- Camino Real Mi
Camino Real Middle
933 students
- This school 182
Columbia Elementary
182 students
What this shows Columbia Elementary reports 182 students on the CCD universe file.
How Columbia Elementary compares
Columbia Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs New Mexico and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Mexico | New Mexico avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 8.7:1 | ▼ 38% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 24% | 80.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 182 | top 67% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8.7:1
Leaner classes than 93% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
182
Bigger than 18% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% above the New Mexico average of 80.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
8.7:1
students per teacher
- 38% below state mean
Top 10% in New Mexico - lower ratio than 90% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
27.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$14,613
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Mexico avg of $19,381
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 182 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 89.6%
White 6.6%
African American 3.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 89.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 19.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 19.2, Columbia Elementary is less mixed than the New Mexico school average of 39.8.
Programs
District finance for Las Cruces Public Schools reports $14,613 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Columbia Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organ Mountain High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Centennial High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Las Cruces High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mayfield High | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Camino Real Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Columbia Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,713
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,703
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 1,327
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 933
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~182 students)
Frequently asked questions about Columbia Elementary
How many students attend Columbia Elementary?
Columbia Elementary has 182 students enrolled. It is a public school in Las Cruces, NM. CCD year-over-year: 225 (2022-23) → 198 (2023-24), down 27.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Columbia Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Columbia Elementary is 8.7:1, which is 38% lower than the New Mexico average of 14:1 and 45% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Columbia Elementary?
100.0% of students at Columbia Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Mexico average of 80.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Columbia Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Columbia Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 89.6% of enrollment, in Las Cruces, NM.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Columbia Elementary?
Columbia Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Columbia Elementary rank among schools in Las Cruces?
By Resource Investment Index, Columbia Elementary ranks #4 of 25 schools in Las Cruces, NM. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Las Cruces on the city page.
What other schools are in Las Cruces Public Schools?
Besides Columbia Elementary, Las Cruces Public Schools also operates Organ Mountain High School (2,128 students), Centennial High School (1,713 students), and Las Cruces High (1,703 students). See the Las Cruces Public Schools district page for the complete list.